Impaired driving caused deadly crash
Posted October 18, 2018
Impaired driving was the cause of a deadly crash involving a bus and pickup truck on March 29, 2017, near Concan, Texas, according to the results of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation.
NTSB’s crash investigation revealed:
- The bus was not equipped with passenger lap/shoulder belts; and
- Unsmoked and partially smoked marijuana cigarettes, drug paraphernalia, and prescription and over-the-counter medication were in the cab of the pickup truck.
NTSB’s recommendations
The agency’s report addressed the increase in illicit, prescription, and over-the-counter drug use among drivers.
Three recommendations were issued as a result of the crash, including:
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should develop and disseminate best practices and model specifications for oral fluid drug screening devices that can be used by law enforcement during roadside stops.
- The Texas Department of Transportation should promote the importance of attending drug-impaired driver enforcement training and increase training sessions to meet the demands of local and state law enforcement.
- Medium-size bus and seat manufacturers should install lap/shoulder belts as standard, rather than optional, equipment on buses.
The abstract for this report is available online.
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