New AAA Study: 85% of Cannabis Consumers Admit Same-Day Driving​

Key Takeaways

• 84.8% of cannabis consumers drive on the same day as consumption, with 53% doing so within an hour or less.​

• A significant portion of users believe their driving is unaffected or improved after consuming cannabis, despite evidence of impairment.​

• Safety messages that focus on personal responsibility and come from credible sources within the cannabis industry are more likely to resonate with consumers.

A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has unveiled concerning statistics about cannabis consumption and driving behaviors. The research indicates that 84.8% of cannabis users admit to driving on the same day they consume the substance, with 53% acknowledging they get behind the wheel within an hour or less after consumption.

The study also sheds light on users’ perceptions of their driving abilities post-consumption. Nearly half (46.9%) believe their driving remains unaffected, while 14.7% think they drive a little better, and 19.4% feel they drive much better after using cannabis.

Additional findings from the study include:​

• Frequency of Consumption: 44.1% of respondents reported using cannabis multiple times daily.​

• Driving Habits: 57.8% indicated they drive daily.​

These insights highlight a significant public safety concern, especially considering that cannabis can impair critical driving skills such as reaction time and cognitive functions. Despite these impairments, many users perceive their driving unaffected or improved after consumption.

To address this issue, AAA emphasizes the need for effective messaging about the risks of driving under the influence of cannabis. The study found that 38.6% of participants would trust information from cannabis industry groups and 37.3% from cannabis brands or companies. Messages emphasizing personal responsibility and safety concerns resonated more with consumers than those focusing solely on legal risks.

Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy, stated, “Effective messaging about cannabis-impaired driving needs to include credible voices, real-world scenarios, and respectful language.” He also noted the importance of representing the diverse backgrounds of cannabis users in these messages to ensure they resonate broadly.

As cannabis legalization continues to expand, understanding and addressing the behaviors and perceptions of users regarding impaired driving is crucial for developing strategies to enhance road safety.

Do you drive the same day you smoke weed, too? Let us know in the comments.​ By the way, if you want to learn more about this topic, you might want to read our article about how cannabis use affects experienced drivers.