This Special Edition on Impaired and Distracted Driving offers our readers a broad array of articles from various jurisdictions, such as state courts, tribal courts, and military tribunals. I am personally grateful to my co-special edition editor, Judge Kate Huffman of the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals, for her generous assistance and support in locating and soliciting authors to write articles for this special edition. Our collaboration, with the outstanding and diligent coordination efforts of our editor Melissa Hodek, led us to obtain the following authors who wrote meaningful, focused, and informative articles on various aspects of impaired driving:
February 03, 2025 Introduction
Impaired and Distracted Driving Jeopardize Highway Safety
Judge Stephanie Domitrovich, PhD
Judge Kate Huffman’s article describes the impressive role that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plays in “reducing the number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes on our nation’s roadways.”
Attorney Joel D. Feldman wrote a heartfelt article on how distracted driving has affected his family and changed their lives forever. Distracted-driving prevention has become his life’s mission. After his daughter’s death, he reevaluated his life, his priorities, and his own driving regarding bad driving behaviors. Our driving should become congruent with our personal values.
Col. Tara A. Osborn, formerly chief trial judge of the U.S. Army, writes about procedures for military defendants who appear in court for impaired-driving offenses. She advocates that we look behind the service uniform and “find a separate system of justice and accountability that has evolved over time to meet the demands of military service.” Service members have “a unique set of experiences and responsibilities that may be important to judges, who employ evidence-based sentencing to evaluate recidivism risk and make determinations regarding bail and probation.”
Authors James Eberspacher and Julie Seitz describe the particulars of a global, well-balanced strategy for dealing with long-term impaired-driving behaviors dubbed “Vision Zero.”
Judge J. Matthew Martin discusses vital reporting issues involving impaired-driving data from Indian Country as well as the growing recognition that Native judges have beyond tribal courts.
Author Amy Miles, a state forensic toxicologist, provides the basics for comprehending the breadth and limitations of forensic toxicology testing regarding impaired driving. She explains how drug testing is more complex than blood alcohol content results, and she explores the Academy Standards Board’s best practice recommendations.
My own article on “masking” introduces our readers to the importance of making commercial driver’s license holders accountable for impaired driving and other traffic violations. Avoiding masking makes our highways and roads safer.
The National Judicial College judicial ambassadors are available, federally fundedby the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to present in person or by Zoom on various topic areas such as avoiding masking, human trafficking, and artificial intelligence. Their contact information is included in this special edition on impaired driving.
We hope you will find this information useful.