According to new data released by the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, the number of marijuana-impaired drivers involved in accidents has nearly doubled.

Julie Furlong of the WTSC said Wednesday 60% of the drivers involved in fatal or deadly crashes between 2010 and 2014 were tested for drugs. Of those tested, about 20% were positive for pot. These figures match those of previous years, they remained about the same year after year.

However, pot can linger in one's system, and just testing positive doesn't mean they were high at the time of the crash. But new testing and new analytics are now allowing the WTSC to determine specific TCH levels at the time the driver is tested following an incident or crash.

It's called 'active TCH" or enough to impair the driver's coordination and judgement.  According to the WTSC, less than half of drivers who tested positive for pot in 2010 had active TCH. That number went up to 65% in 2013, and skyrocketed to 85% in 2014.

Dr.Staci Hoff, Data and Research Director for the Commission, says that simply means 85% of the drivers involved in deadly-fatal collisions in 2014 who had pot in their system were actually high at the time of the accident.

Young men between the ages of 21-25 have seen the greatest jump,  with over a 66% increase.

These facts indicate since the legalization of marijuana in Washington state, we now face a potential epidemic of impaired drivers who are high behind the wheel. Because of this new emphasis patrols are coming to the Mid-Columbia and other areas, between August 21st. and Labor Day.  All local, county and state law enforcement agencies in our area will be on the lookout for impaired drivers.

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