Sweeping societal change comes with problems both anticipated and unforeseen. In the case of legalized marijuana, an increase in impaired driving was to be expected. The dangers presented by driving under the influence call for a two-pronged approach: Public education about the risks, and development of a reliable roadside breath test to measure impairment.
A recent study by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission found, unsurprisingly, that a majority of drivers who were tested following a fatal crash had used alcohol or drugs. Researchers also found a large percentage of those were under the influence of more than one substance, and that the most frequent combination was alcohol and marijuana. “By 2016, the number of poly-drug drivers were more than double the number of alcohol-only drivers and five times higher than the number of THC-only drivers involved in fatal crashes,” the study reports.
Overall, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Washington roads are much safer than the national average. In 2016, there were 0.87 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in the state; the national average was 1.16 fatalities.
It also should be noted that the rate of traffic fatalities nationwide is about 30 percent of what it was in the early 1970s. Since then, improvements to vehicle and road safety, mandated safety-belt use, and vigorous education campaigns regarding the dangers of drinking and driving have resulted in a precipitous drop in traffic deaths. In other words, the United States recognized a problem, took multiple steps to correct it, and enjoyed positive results.
A trend to legalize recreational marijuana use has threatened to curtail those results. Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana use for adults, and 30 states have approved medical marijuana. In 2012, voters made Washington one of the first two states to approve recreational use.
It should go without saying that using marijuana and getting behind the wheel is a bad idea; but sometimes the obvious still needs to be stated. Driving with any kind of impairment endangers both the driver and others on the road, and Staci Hoff of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission said, “One thing you can say, without question, even in the research, is that using alcohol and marijuana together increases impairment.” Since the early 1980s, robust public-information campaigns have greatly decreased the number of drinking-and-driving incidents. Over time, information about the risks of toking and driving will have the same impact.
Meanwhile, the development of a roadside breath test to measure marijuana impairment is essential. Researchers at Washington State University were working on such a test before suspending their efforts earlier this year over fear of a Trump administration crackdown on legalized marijuana. Other researchers have continued development, and at least one California company believes it has a product ready for field testing.
Assessing marijuana impairment can be difficult for law enforcement. Blood levels of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — do not equate to impairment the way alcohol does; and frequent users react differently to THC than infrequent users.
Development of a reliable test will assist law enforcement, but efforts to limit impaired driving must focus on personal responsibility. “There’s a widespread misconception that it’s OK and it’s safe to drive after smoking pot,” epidemiologist Guohua Li told NPR. That misconception represents a danger to all drivers.
