America’s Rural Roads: Beautiful and Deadly
Rural roads are beautiful, but they’re hiding a deadly secret – nearly half of all fatal crashes occur on them, even though only 19% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas.
Every state has laws dealing with alcohol-impaired driving and drug-impaired driving. But unlike the laws for drunk driving, those that address drugged driving are nuanced, difficult to enforce and prosecute and vary substantially by state.
In addition to general impairment laws, there are two basic laws that states tend to use when addressing drug-impaired driving:
18 states have zero tolerance or non-zero per se laws for marijuana.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on drug-impaired driving laws other than what is presented here. A compilation of state marijuana laws is available via the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and information on marijuana-impaired driving laws is available from the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office (SHSO).
Source: SHSOs.
Last updated in January 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.
Per se >0 for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
THC per se (5 ng)
Per se >0 for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
THC per se (2 ng)
Per se >0 for some drugs
Legal for medical use
THC per se (5 ng)
Permissible inference law >0 for THC
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
Permissible inference for THC (5 ng)
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
Legal for medical use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
Decriminalized
None
None
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
Legal for medical use
Decriminalized
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for delta-9-THC
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized
None
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational (effective 8/1/23) use
Zero tolerance for THC but no restriction on metabolites (effective 8/1/23)
Legal for medical and recreational use
Zero tolerance for THC
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
None
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
THC per se (5 ng)
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
None
Illegal
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Illegal
None
None
None
Decriminalized for legal for medical use
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Legal for medical use
None
Legal for medical use
None
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
None
Illegal
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
None
Per se >0 for some drugs
None
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
None
None
None
Legal for medical use
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
None
Per se >0 for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
THC per se (2 ng) for felony violations
Rural roads are beautiful, but they’re hiding a deadly secret – nearly half of all fatal crashes occur on them, even though only 19% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas.
GHSA's Annual Report highlights the Association's accomplishments for the 2022 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022).
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), funded by State Farm®, explores the extent of the rural road safety problem and dives into the data to determine who dies in these crashes and what risky driving behaviors are key contributors.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), funded by State Farm®, explores the extent of the rural road safety problem, dives into the data to determine who dies in these crashes and what risky driving behaviors are key contributors.
While the debate to legalize recreational use of marijuana in PA continues, another debate of sorts has surfaced. That debate centers on the use of cannabis & its connection to driving safety. A recent study is a real eye-opener when it comes to cannabis consumption & driving under the influence.
As more states prepare to approve or consider legalizing recreational marijuana, the GHSA last week teamed with Responsibility.org and NASID to release a 15-page report outlining steps states should take to inform drivers of the potential danger of smoking and driving.
On Tuesday, GHSA, Responsibility.org and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving released a new report entitled Cannabis Consumers and Safe Driving: Responsible Use Messaging, offering a blueprint for recreational states to effectively communicate the dangers of cannabis-impaired driving.
As cannabis use becomes more prevalent in the U.S., GHSA, Responsibility.org and NASID today released a new report that provides guidance on how SHSOs can better communicate with cannabis consumers about safe driving and offers recommendations about the types of messages that do and don’t work.
GHSA’s new report with Responsibility.org and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) provides guidance on how State Highway Safety Offices can better communicate with cannabis consumers about safe driving and offers recommendations about the types of messages that do and don’t work.
As cannabis use becomes more prevalent in the U.S., GHSA, Responsibility.org and NASID today released a new report that provides guidance on how SHSOs can better communicate with cannabis consumers about safe driving and offers recommendations about the types of messages that do and don’t work.