Study Claims Marijuana Users Don’t Believe They’ll Be Caught DWI
Driving under the influence doesn’t just mean getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. DUI charges can be filed against drivers who choose to take to the road under the influence of drugs such as marijuana as well. Any impairment due to the influence of either alcohol or drugs is considered illegal.
KHOU, the CBS local affiliate in Houston, recently reported that according to a study conducted by the AAA Foundation, many drivers who choose to drive while they are high believe that they wouldn’t be cited for DUI while they are high. Some of those participating in the survey admitted to driving while under the influence of marijuana an hour or less after using the drug.
Dr. David Yang, with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said that marijuana use can significantly impair the judgment and delay reaction time of drivers. Those who choose to drive while under the influence are twice as likely to get into an accident with the full effects of the drug can last for hours.
“Yet, many drivers don’t consider marijuana-impaired driving as risky as other behaviors like driving drunk or talking on the phone while driving, ” Dr. Yang said.
With the increased use of medical marijuana and its legalization in several states, the problem of driving while under the influence of marijuana is becoming more prevalent.
Additionally, the AAA Foundation’s study found that men are more likely than women to drive under marijuana’s influence. An estimated 8% of men and 7% of women participating in the study reported driving an hour or less after using marijuana.
The study found that 14% of Millennials who participated in the survey admitted to driving an hour or less after using marijuana and that overall, an estimated 7% of Americans approve of driving while under the influence of marijuana.