AUTOMOTIVE: Americans don’t think they’ll get arrested for driving high

PORTLAND — Nearly 70 percent of Americans think it’s unlikely a driver will get caught by police for driving while high on marijuana, according to a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey. Another alarming finding from the AAA Foundation shows an estimated 14.8 million drivers report getting behind the wheel within one hour after using marijuana in the past 30 days. The impairing effects of marijuana are usually experienced within the first one to four hours after using the drug. And marijuana users who drive high are up to twice as likely to be involved in a crash.

“Marijuana can significantly alter reaction times and impair a driver’s judgement,” said Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Dr. David Yang. “Yet, many drivers don’t consider marijuana-impaired driving as risky as other behaviors like driving drunk or talking on the phone while driving. It is important for everyone to understand that driving after recently using marijuana can put themselves and others at risk.”