{"id":15295,"date":"2020-02-02T22:00:52","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T04:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/?p=15295"},"modified":"2020-02-02T19:55:04","modified_gmt":"2020-02-03T01:55:04","slug":"aaa-reports-fatal-crashes-involving-drivers-who-test-positive-for-marijuana-increase-after-state-legalizes-drug","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/2020\/02\/02\/aaa-reports-fatal-crashes-involving-drivers-who-test-positive-for-marijuana-increase-after-state-legalizes-drug\/","title":{"rendered":"AAA reports Fatal Crashes Involving Drivers Who Test Positive for Marijuana Increase After State Legalizes Drug"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AAA\"Nashville, TN<\/strong> – AAA says a concerning number of Washington state drivers involved in fatal crashes are testing positive for recent use of marijuana, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.<\/p>\n

The share of drivers who, after a fatal crash, tested positive for active THC \u2013 the drug\u2019s main psychoactive ingredient \u2013 has doubled since the state legalized marijuana in December 2012.<\/p>\n

\"Percent<\/a>

Percent of THC-positive drivers has doubled since recreational use was legalized in Washington state. (AAA)<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

AAA believes the increase raises important traffic safety concerns for drivers across the country, because recreational marijuana use is now legal in 11 states and Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

The latest AAA Foundation research found that between 2008 and 2012 \u2013 the five-year period before the drug was legal \u2013 an estimated 8.8% of Washington drivers involved in fatal crashes were positive for THC. That rate rose to 18% between 2013 and 2017.<\/p>\n

The average number of THC-positive drivers increased, too. In the five years before legalization, an average of 56 drivers involved in fatal crashes each year were THC-positive. In the five years after legalization, the average jumped to 130. The new numbers bolster the findings of a similar report the AAA Foundation released in 2016.<\/p>\n

The study did not attempt to determine if marijuana contributed to the crashes included in its latest research. It focused only on the prevalence of drivers who tested positive for active THC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis study enabled us to review a full 10-years\u2019 worth of data about the potential impact of marijuana on driving safety \u2013 and it raises significant concerns,\u201d said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cResults from the analysis suggest that legalization of recreational use of marijuana may increase the rate of THC-positive drivers involved in fatal crashes,\u201d Yang stated.<\/p>\n

Marijuana use can inhibit concentration, slow reaction times and cloud judgment. Its effects vary by individual, but a number of studies have concluded that marijuana use impairs the ability to drive safely. Previous research suggests that users who drive high are up to twice as likely to be involved in a crash.<\/p>\n

Eleven states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for both recreational and medical use. Another 22 states have legalized it for medical use only. State legislative sessions for 2020 are getting underway and recreational use is expected to be a popular topic. The legislative interest combined with likely November ballot measures could result in additional states taking a hard look the issue.<\/p>\n

In an attempt to curtail drug-impaired driving, seven states have set legal non-zero, or \u201cper se,\u201d limits on the amount of THC drivers can have in their system. While well-intended, AAA believes imposing such limits is problematic because no data reliably shows what level of THC impairs driving, the chemical\u2019s effects vary by user, and THC testing often cannot be done until hours after a crash.<\/p>\n

AAA believes that states that have legalized the drug should not rely solely on an arbitrary legal limit to determine if a driver is impaired.<\/p>\n

They should adopt a two-pronged approach that requires:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A positive test for recent marijuana use<\/li>\n
  2. Behavioral and physiological evidence of driver impairment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Regardless of the drug\u2019s legal status \u2013 and limits in any state \u2013 all motorists need to avoid driving while impaired.<\/p>\n

    [320left]\u201cSimply put, if you\u2019ve used marijuana, don\u2019t drive,\u201d said Megan Cooper, Public & Government Relations Consultant, AAA – The Auto Club Group. \u201cAnd if you plan to drive, don\u2019t use marijuana.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Last year, a Foundation survey found that nearly 70% of Americans think it\u2019s unlikely a driver will get caught by police for driving shortly after using marijuana. The survey also revealed that an estimated 14.8 million drivers report getting behind the wheel within one hour after using marijuana in the past 30 days.<\/p>\n

    AAA is committed to educating the public about the risks of substance-impaired driving. Through AAA Foundation research, AAA is working to improve understanding on the topic and is working collaboratively with safety stakeholders to reduce the impact of substance-impaired driving related crashes.<\/p>\n

    About AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety<\/h3>\n

    Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation\u2019s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur.<\/p>\n

    This research is used to develop educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users. Visit www.AAAFoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    About AAA – The Auto Club Group<\/h3>\n

    The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, insurance, banking, financial services, and travel offerings to over 13.5 million members across 13 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana. <\/p>\n

    ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com\/mobile<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Visit AAA on the Internet at AAA.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Nashville, TN – AAA says a concerning number of Washington state drivers involved in fatal crashes are testing positive for recent use of marijuana, 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 \u2013 the drug\u2019s main psychoactive ingredient […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[1361,2501,12677,3044,549,284,12464,3338],"class_list":["post-15295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","tag-aaa","tag-aaa-foundation-for-traffic-safety","tag-fatal-crash","tag-marijuana","tag-nashville","tag-nashville-tn","tag-thc","tag-washington-d-c"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15295"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15296,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15295\/revisions\/15296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}