Two complementary reports by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety find that marijuana, also known as cannabis, is now the third most used substance in the United States following nicotine and alcohol – and that usage increase is fueling an uptick in impaired driving.
[Above photo via Wikimedia Commons]
The safety advocacy group said that as some form of cannabis consumption is legal in 38 states – with 24 states allowing recreational use and 14 states permitting medical use only – impaired driving due to marijuana use has become more common, leading to a heightened risk of crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
AAA said its two AAA studies sought to analyze cannabis consumers’ thoughts, perceptions, and reasons for driving under the influence, and also develop messages that might deter this behavior in the future.
The first study relied on surveys to gain a deeper understanding of cannabis consumers’ behaviors and perceptions of themselves. These surveys were developed with input from a panel of public health, law enforcement, traffic safety, and cannabis subject matter experts. A few key themes emerged from survey respondents who are confirmed cannabis consumers:
- Daily and frequent consumption – 44.1 percent said they consume cannabis multiple times per day
- Driving regularly – 57.8 percent indicated that they drive daily
- Consuming then driving is common – 84.8 percent revealed that they drive the same day that they consume cannabis, with 53 percent saying they consumed an hour or less before driving
- Belief that consumption has little effect on driving– 46.9 percent believe they either drive the same, a little better (14.7 percent), or much better (19.4 percent) after consuming cannabis
- Cannabis industry carries weight– 38.6 percent said they would trust messaging about cannabis use and safe driving from cannabis industry groups and cannabis brands/companies (37.3 percent)
The second study gauged habits, behaviors, and perceptions related to marijuana use – primarily focused on what types of impaired driving messages resonated most with participants who are regular cannabis consumers. Participants identified specific qualities that they found most engaging:
- Messages that highlighted personal responsibility and safety concerns performed better than messages based on legal risks.
- Participants also strongly preferred realistic, positive, and diverse messaging that avoids exaggerated stereotypes.
- To ensure relevancy, messages should be tailored to the intended audience as “no one size fits all” when it comes to messaging, AAA said.
“Understanding what motivates cannabis consumers to drive under the influence can be helpful in developing effective safety strategies,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, in a statement.
“With insights on perceptions, decision-making, and behavior, we aim to inform policies and interventions that make our roads safer for everyone,” he added.
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