High Drivers Go Flying
Marijuana may be legal in Missouri, but driving high isn’t.
Marijuana impairs your driving skills, reaction time and decision-making ability, and dramatically increases your chance of being involved in an accident, injuring yourself or injuring others.
Here are some statistics that could help illustrate the dangers:
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), marijuana is the most commonly identified drug among drivers involved in fatal crashes.
- A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drivers who had recently used marijuana were involved in twice as many accidents as drivers who had not used the drug.
- The same study found that the use of marijuana can impair a driver's ability to track moving objects, make quick decisions, and respond to emergencies.
- A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that marijuana can significantly impair a driver's performance on tasks such as lane tracking, divided attention, and coordination.
- A review of studies published in the journal Addiction found that the use of marijuana increases the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident by 20-30%.
These statistics demonstrate the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana and the need for increased education and awareness on this issue. It's important to remember that driving under the influence of any drug, including marijuana, is illegal and puts everyone on the road at risk.
Make good choices. Don't drive while high. Don't get in a car with someone who is high or under the influence of any substance. And keep your friends who may be impaired from getting behind the wheel.