More young drivers involved in fatal crashes had drugs in their system than alcohol

A study of fatal car crashes in Canada from 2000-2007 shows more drivers who were 18-or-under had drugs in their system as opposed to alcohol (30.4% versus 29.6%), reported Allstate Insurance Company of Canada.
Allstate partnered with MADD to offer a public education video showing young people the many consequences of impaired driving. The video can be viewed and embedded onto Web sites at: http://bit.ly/impaireddriving.
In 2006, drug use while driving was estimated to be a factor in more than 13% of traffic fatalities in Canada.
More than 60% of those who use illegal drugs are between 15 and 24 years old, reported Allstate, citing as its source the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse in Ottawa.
“Incidents involving young drivers are especially troubling, as the level of driving experience is low,” said Armand La Barge, York Regional Police’s chief. “Anything that impairs their ability to react to a dangerous situation only increases the risk of serious injury of death.”