A third of drivers who drink alcohol and use marijuana at the same time report getting behind the wheel within two hours of consumption, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows. That’s a concern because evidence suggests the combination of alcohol and marijuana worsens driving performance more than either substance by […]
IIHS Researchers Find Crash Rates Increased After Marijuana Legalization
Accidents that caused injuries and fatalities were up overall, though results varied widely by state as some saw decreases. New research shows that crash rates in states that legalized marijuana increased following legalization. The research paper Changes in Traffic Crash Rates After Legalization of Marijuana: Results by Crash Severity by Charles M. Farmer , Ph.D., […]
Crash Rates Up Following Marijuana Legalization
Studies by IIHS and HLDI show crash rates up in Western U.S. states that legalized recreational use and retail sales of marijuana. According to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and another by the affiliated Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), crash rates and collision claim frequencies spiked in most states following the […]
Insurance Association Calls for Expanded Marijuana Consumer Safety Research on National Weed Day
An American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) reaffirmed the need for expanded consumer safety, research, and standards related to marijuana impairment. In a statement released in conjunction with National Weed Day today, Jeff Brewer, vice president of public affairs, said, “National Weed Day should serve as a reminder about the dangers of driving under the […]
AAA Research Reports Risky Driving Behaviors of Drivers Who Use Alcohol and Marijuana
–People who use both alcohol and marijuana are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road – they are significantly more likely to speed, text, intentionally run red lights, and drive aggressively than those who don’t, according to data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. They also are far more likely to report […]
Study Shows Dramatic Increases in Vaping Marijuana
University of Michigan study illustrates increase in marijuana use among US college students and young adults. Vaping marijuana and vaping nicotine have increased dramatically among 19-to-22-year-olds, with both more than doubling between 2017 and 2019, according to the University of Michigan’s annual U.S. national Monitoring the Future Panel Study. Use of marijuana in any form […]
Survey Illustrates Misconceptions about Marijuana Use and Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving survey finds one in eight U.S. adults admit driving under influence of marijuana. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), celebrating its 40th Anniversary of its founding in September, has released a new survey that measures the American public’s attitudes and knowledge about the impact of marijuana on traffic safety. According to the […]
Fatal Crashes Involving Drivers Who Test Positive for Marijuana Doubled in Washington State Following Legalization
According to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the share of drivers who, after a fatal crash, tested positive for active THC – the drug’s main psychoactive ingredient – has doubled since Washington State legalized marijuana in December 2012. AAA believes the increase raises important traffic safety concerns for drivers across the […]
National Safety Council Says No Level of Cannabis Use Acceptable for Workers in Safety Sensitive Positions
Recognizing that safety concerns are paramount as decriminalization of cannabis continues in states throughout the U.S., the National Safety Council (NSC) calls on employers to restrict cannabis use for those in safety sensitive positions – regardless of whether cannabis consumption is allowed by their state. In a policy position released October 21, NSC defines safety […]
Impact of Marijuana Legalization and Automated Vehicles on Agenda at National Highway Safety Conference
750 of the nation’s top highway safety leaders will convene at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, Calif. next week for the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Annual Meeting, Imagine the Future: Advancing Traffic Safety through Technology and Innovation, occurring August 25-28. The meeting draws attendees from the federal and state governments, the private sector, law […]