The newest danger on the nation's highways is "drugged" drivers, those on illegal, prescription or over-the-counter drugs, officials say.
The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday that eight police officers who have been trained to detect "drugged" driving will assist in motor-vehicle stops where local police suspect the driver is under the influence of drugs.
Reports show that drunk driving rates are continuing to fall nationwide, but recent studies show a new danger on the horizon, motorist driving while under the influence of illegal drugs, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, according to a news release from the prosecutor's office.
Currently, traffic enforcement officials do not have a roadside test for drugged driving and often have difficulty recognizing the signs, according to the release.
The eight officers who are specially trained Drug Recognition Experts will be on call throughout Somerset County, assisting municipal officers who spot drivers who appear impaired, but not because they're drunk.
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The expert's findings will be confirmed by toxicological testing, according to the release.
"We welcome the expertise of these DRE officers," said Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. "Police officers are routinely trained in detecting alcohol intoxication, but relatively few are schooled in recognizing when drivers are drug-impaired.
The municipalities that employ a trained DRE officer are Bedminster, Bernards, Bridgewater, Montgomery, South Bound Brook and Warren. Those without the specially trained can request them by contacting Somerset County Communications.
"These specially trained officers are already proving to be valuable assets in safeguarding New Jersey roadways for the motoring public," said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. The agency provided funding to train the officers.
"They're being deployed regularly and, as a result, we're seeing increases in the number of DUI cases where drivers are not under the influence of alcohol. These are cases that might otherwise have slipped through the cracks had it not been for the expertise of the DRE officers."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.