Recently in a new report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), post-mortem testing results showing an increase in the level of drug involvement among fatally injured drivers over a five-year period from 2005 to 2009.

According to data compiled by NHTSA, 63 percent of the 21,798 drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2009 were tested for drugs. Of these, 3,952 tested positive for drug involvement, representing 18 percent of the total for that year. The report also showed drug use reported by the states among fatally injured drivers increasing from 13 percent in 2005, to 15 percent in 2006, 16 percent in 2007, and 18 percent in 2008.

To view the report, please visit www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pub/811415.pdf