Drugged Driving Facts

Drugged driving is of increasing concern as more states move toward legalization. We often look at drinking and driving or distracted driving as major issues for our roadways. However, drugged driving is just as bad and we have the facts to back that statement up! Here at the Arrive Alive Tour, we take a look at some key facts and statistics when it comes to driving under the influence of marijuana.

Driving under the influence of marijuana is an issue no one should take lightly and these drugged driving facts show us why:

• After alcohol, marijuana is the most commonly used drug while driving. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Drugged driving is dangerous! According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the effects of marijuana can include altered senses and sense of time, slow reaction time, anxiety, hallucinations and more.
• In 2015, 57% of fatally-injured drivers were tested for drugs. Of the 57% tested, 35.6% of them had marijuana in their system. (GHSA)
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted roadside surveys during 2013-14. They were down during weekday days and weekend nights. Of those tested during the weekday, 12.1% tested positive for illegal drugs, including marijuana and 11.7% tested positive for marijuana. Of those tested during the weekend, 15.2% tested positive for illegal drugs, including marijuana and 12.6% tested positive for marijuana.
• The use of marijuana has been increasing among drivers from 2007 to 2013-14. According to the NHTSA, the percentage of THC-positive drivers increased from 8.6 percent in 2007 to 12.6 percent in 2013-14. This is an increase of 47%.
• In 2015, GHSA found that more deaths occurred from drugged driving than drunk driving. Of the fatally-injured tested by the GHSA, 43% of the motorists who died had drugs in their system. Compare that to the 37% of motorists who died testing positive for alcohol.
• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drivers that have smoked marijuana before getting behind the wheel are 65% more likely to get into a crash than those drivers who have not used marijuana.
• Driving impaired with marijuana may double your risk for a crash.
•  Recent smoking with blood concentrations of 2-5ng/ml are associated with driving impairment, particularly in occasional smokers.
• Combining marijuana with alcohol impairs driving at doses insignificant on their own.
• Drivers combining marijuana and alcohol are more likely to speed, text, intentionally run red lights, and drive aggressively than those who don’t.

Drugged Driving Facts For Teens

• More teens are driving after smoking marijuana than after heavy drinking. A national study was conducted from 2009-2011 and it showed the percentage of high school seniors who drove after using marijuana was almost three times as high as those who drove after drinking heavily. (American Journal of Public Health)
• In a 2012 survey, more than one in eight high school seniors admitted to driving under the influence of marijuana in the two weeks prior to the survey. (National Institute of Drug Abuse)
• A Liberty Mutual and SADD survey found that 33% of teenagers believe it is legal to drive under the influence of marijuana. Adding to that, 27% of their parents believed it was legal also.
• In 2013, 9.9 million people (3.8% of the population) reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs. This was highest among 18-25 year olds, as 10.6% reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs.
• One in three college students reported driving after using marijuana. 

Bring the Arrive Alive Tour to your area. For more information or details on the marijuana driving simulator program, contact us here!

Sources: GetSmartAboutDrugs.gov, USA Today, Governors Highway Safety Association, MADD, CNN, RecoveryRanch