Many Cannabis Users Think They Can Drive Safely, New Research Finds
March 27, 2025
With increased cannabis use – it’s the third most commonly used substance in the United States, following nicotine and alcohol – this form of impaired driving has become more common, leading to a heightened risk of crashes, injuries, and fatalities. But many cannabis consumers said they believe consumption has little effect on driving and don’t think they are too impaired to drive.
Those are the highlights of two new studies released earlier this month by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and education association. The studies analyzed how cannabis users in the U.S. view driving while under the influence and explored messaging strategies to promote safer choices.
“Understanding what motivates cannabis consumers to drive under the influence can be helpful in developing effective safety strategies,” David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said in a statement. “With insights on perceptions, decision-making, and behavior, we aim to inform policies and interventions that make our roads safer for everyone.”
The stakes are high for understanding the impact, the safety group said, as some form of cannabis consumption is legal in 38 states: 24 states allow recreational use, while 14 states permit medical use only.
The AAA Foundation conducted two complementary studies to analyze cannabis consumers’ thoughts, perceptions, and reasons for driving under the influence, and to develop messages that might deter this potentially dangerous behavior in the future.
One study, “Examination of Cannabis Users’ Perceptions and Self-Reported Behaviors to Inform Messaging to Deter Impaired Driving,” surveyed confirmed cannabis consumers to understand their behaviors and perceptions of themselves. Respondents addressed a variety of issues surrounding usage and driving patterns as well as trust in information presented by the cannabis industry.
- 44.1% said they consume cannabis multiple times per day
- 57.8% indicated that they drive daily
- 84.8% revealed that they drive the same day that they consume cannabis, with 53% saying they consumed an hour or less before driving
- 46.9% believe they either drive the same, a little better (14.7%), or much better (19.4%)
- 38.6% said they would trust messaging about cannabis use and safe driving from cannabis industry groups and cannabis brands/companies (37.3%)
The second study, “Development and Validation of Messaging to Deter Cannabis Impaired Driving,” also addressed habits, behaviors, and perceptions, but primarily focused on what types of impaired driving messages resonated most with respondents who were regular cannabis consumers.
The most effective messages were those that highlighted personal responsibility and safety concerns more than those based on legal risks; and realistic, positive, and diverse messaging that avoided exaggerated stereotypes. Ideally, the study found, messages should be tailored to a specific audience, as a single approach doesn’t always work best for everyone.
Other takeaways from the research include:
- Messaging should address common myths and misconceptions respectfully.
- Unlike alcohol, cannabis affects drivers in complex ways that are not easily quantified.
- Effects can vary from person to person, but may include: fatigue/sleepiness, brain fog,
- changes in visual or auditory perception, impaired body movement, and hallucinations/delusions.
- Although cannabis impairment detection is not as straightforward as with alcohol, police are still able to identify it.
As cannabis becomes even more widely used, relevant and engaging public health messaging will be more critical than ever, the safety group said. Combating impaired driving, it noted, must involve a range of measures, from policy and enforcement to public education campaigns.
“Effective messaging about cannabis-impaired driving needs to include credible voices, real-world scenarios, and respectful language,” Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy, said in a statement. “Individuals who consume cannabis come from all walks of life and that should be reflected in the messaging.”
For more information and to read the reports, click here.
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