(Washington, DC, Thursday, August 11, 2022) – As more states legalize cannabis, more Americans are using it, yet there’s a disconnect between people’s views on cannabis use and safe driving. An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that 95% of people consider driving over the legal blood alcohol concentration to be very or extremely dangerous, but only 69% see the same level of danger for driving within an hour of consuming cannabis. Some people even believe that cannabis use improves their driving, while research confirms cannabis use directly affects the parts of the brain most critical for safe driving.
Cannabis has played an increasing role in traffic fatalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma center data indicates that 33% of drivers involved in fatal crashes had THC in their system – up from 21% before the pandemic. While states have years of experience successfully talking to people about drunk driving, many states have little to no experience with cannabis. GHSA, Responsibility.org, and NASID teamed up to produce a new report that offers State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) a playbook for effectively messaging to consumers about safe driving and cannabis consumption.