Researchers at Columbia University have found that marijuana contributed to 12% of U.S. traffic deaths in 2010. That’s three times more than in 1990.
Young motorists are particularly vulnerable, reports USA Today. Nearly half of the drivers who died in car accidents and who tested positive for pot were under the age of 25.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 4% of drivers were high during the day and 6% were high at night, except on the weekends when that figure more than doubled.
Despite the increase in marijuana-related traffic fatalities, most high schoolers don’t think pot is harmful. The percentage of high-schoolers who see great risk from being regular marijuana users has dropped dramatically in the past 10 years, according to last year’s Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey. In fact, 60% of 12th graders don’t think it’s harmful.
A study is currently being conducted to determine how pot that is inhaled affects driving performance.
Photo via Wikimedia
