Oct 26, 2010 By Herald Standard Staff 2 min read

The state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the state police are teaming up to remind motorists that driving under the influence of prescription and over-the-counter medication can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs. PennDOT officials said they will be working with state and municipal police departments throughout the week to increase impaired-driving enforcement, with emphasis on driving under the influence of drugs.

“Many of us don’t realize the serious side effects of medications that some people take every day,” Allen D. Biehler, PennDOT secretary, stated in a press release. “The combination of cold medicine and alcohol or choosing to take an extra painkiller could have potentially devastating effects if you get behind the wheel.”

PennDOT officials said that crashes involving drivers suspected of drug use – legal or illegal – are increasing.

Last year, there were 451 crashes and 25 fatalities involving drivers suspected of being impaired by drugs, which is up from 381 crashes and 21 fatalities in 2008.

Crashes involving legal drug use climbed from 74 in 2008 to 110 in 2009, PennDOT officials indicated.

Officials said more officers are being trained as Drug Recognition Experts, or DREs.

There are currently more than 75 DREs that are able to characterize and stop impaired motorists in seven major drug categories.

“Drug recognition experts are playing an increasingly important role in law enforcement efforts to take impaired drivers off the roads,” said state police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski said.

Officials said the most commonly encountered during DRE evaluations include Xanax, Klonopin, Oxycontin and Vicodin.

For a first-time offender, an arrest for driving under the influence of drugs can include a 12-month suspension of the suspect’s driver’s license, 72 hours to six months in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.