AAA Finds Cannabis More Prevalent in Fatal Car Crashes After Legalization

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap] new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found the percentage of Washington state drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for cannabis has doubled since cannabis was legalized for recreational use.

The AAA Foundation looked at crash reports from 2008 to 2012, before cannabis was legalized recreationally and found an estimated 8.8 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for THC. After legalizing cannabis, the rate rose to 18 percent from 2013 to 2017. AAA found the number of THC-positive drivers increased as well, with an average of 56 THC-positive drivers involved in fatal crashes in the five years before legalization and an average of 130 in the five years after legalization.

“This study enabled us to review a full 10-years’ worth of data about the potential impact of marijuana on driving safety—and it raises significant concerns. Results from the analysis suggest that the legalization of recreational use of marijuana may increase the rate of THC-positive drivers involved in fatal crashes,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

AAA officials acknowledge the study found a correlation and not a causative link, and over the study period traffic fatalities decreased overall. The study shows an increase in the number of drivers with THC in their system and drivers with THC in their system could be a crash risk. Other studies have shown legal recreational cannabis leads to an increase in car accidents. The study acknowledges the difficulties of creating legal framework and enforcing it when it comes to driving under the influence of cannabis as opposed to drunk driving.

“We know that marijuana impairs drivers,” said Helen Witty, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). “And while MADD doesn’t take a position on the legalization of recreational marijuana, we do strongly take a position on driving after using marijuana or alcohol, or any drug, simply because it kills people.”