NASID Day 3:
Testimony, Advocacy, and Looking to the Future

The NASID Conference wrapped up today, spotlighting not only the critical next steps after identifying impaired driving but also actionable strategies for leveraging data to craft lasting solutions and achieve impactful legislative wins. A key theme throughout the third day was “the more that is known about the problem, the more that can be done to address it.” Here are some key takeaways from the conference’s last day: 

  • The first session began with an in-depth look at toxicology, drug recognition expert (DRE) testimony, and how to “challenge the process” to help more evidence be permissible in court settings to prosecute impaired drivers. Susan Ringer and Ashley Schluck, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors representing West Virginia and Wyoming respectively, outlined the difficulties and nuances in the training, certification, qualification, and continued education that it takes to become a recognized DRE and how each state’s laws and regulations vary. The same is true for forensic toxicologists, which makes the process of getting these important experts in front of juries more difficult than it should be. Conferences like NASID help elevate these conversations and dilemmas—so challenging the process can take action into creating solutions that save lives.
  • When it comes to elevating the issue of impaired driving, remember to utilize and activate around your partners. Partnerships—including non-traditional ones—can help elevate your voice until you start making waves. Find new connections and always stay active with advocates; you can drive progress by making it personal. Despite some uncertainty within the political space, Brandy Nannini, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Smart Start, encouraged all attendees to make new friends, and rest assured that movement at the state-level will continue—and it will be imperative to making change. “All politics is global. If you’re able to bring a human face who also happens to be a politically relevant person from the community– that’s a human face,” David Quinalty, Head of Federal Policy and Government Affairs, Waymo, said. Connections are the true key to making an impact. Whether it is a community leader, a legislative staffer, or a personal friend, collective effort results in just that—results.
  • More data requires greater funding. “Another thing that we’ve heard over these three days is the need for better data. That has been a constant, constant, constant throughout the sessions, and that’s not an easily solved issue overnight. I think something that we’re all deeply invested in trying to figure out how to get better data, and closely related to that, is funding because we are all again competing to break through the noise.” Kelly Poulsen, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Responsibility.org, said.
  • Alcohol-impaired driving remains a significant challenge, despite it not being a new issue, and despite many efforts from multiple angles to thwart it. The 2022 NTSB report on alcohol, other drugs, and multiple drug use among drivers found that while alcohol was the most prevalent drug, about half of all drivers tested positive for other drugs. But, as the Honorable Thomas B. Chapman of the National Transportation Safety Board said, “We cannot fix what we don’t know. For that reason, consistent toxicology standards are critical to addressing this problem and can help us foster the development of policy- based countermeasures and interventions consistent with high-quality toxicology data is important.”

As attendees head home from an action-packed three days, we urge all to take action and “be loud” on what was discussed this week. Make the effort to get to know your local, state, and federal legislators. Reach out to introduce yourself and the traffic safety work you are doing. Prepare a list of specific funding or resource needs (e.g., for data, research, training, etc.) that you can share with policymakers when opportunities arise. Together, we can all make our roadways safer from impaired driving and prevent the senseless loss of lives.