Tennessee Lawmakers Asked to Tighten Drugged Driving Laws

No one ever believes they are too drunk to drive safely when they get behind the wheel of a car - which is why so many fatal crashes happen every year as a result of drunk driving. The state of Tennessee was fed up with not only drunk driving, but also drugged driving and demanded tougher laws.

A recent article in the Tennessean began with the sobering tale of Bruce Holloway, a man who had driven home on a Friday afternoon to spend time with his fiancé. He had slowed the car to a crawl in front of his home; likely deciding where to park, and his car was hit from behind.

The driver of the offending vehicle was driving 80 mph when the collision occurred. Holloway was killed on impact. Holloway was just a few months shy of walking his bride down the aisle and the driver who caused his death had both alcohol and pain medication in his system.

Mary Loving, Hollaway's fiancée calls the incident, "Unfair" and she is right - he had one tire in the driveway and was nearly home. He didn't ask for his fate and the one that caused it had the opportunity to live.

In the state of Tennessee, the number of traffic crashes involving the use of drugs has nearly doubled since 2003 and could be an even bigger problem than the statistics suggest. According to state officials, the state lacks enough law enforcement officers who are adequately trained to recognize when an individual is impaired by drugs.

State lawmakers will be asked by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference to tighten those DUI laws to make it easier to identify and convict drugged drivers.