Those worried about teen motorists using their smartphones while on the road driving auto claims up might want to take note of this alarming new trend.
A new study conducted by
Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) found that about 33% of all teens surveyed believed that it was legal to drive under the influence of marijuana in states where the recreational drug has been legalized.
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Notably, 88% of teens surveyed said that driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous, compared to 68% of teens who said that driving under the influence of cannabis is dangerous.
The same survey also found that 27% of parents surveyed also thought that it was legal to drive while under the effects of cannabis. Although the survey found that 93% of parents think driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous, only 76% feel that driving after smoking marijuana is dangerous.
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The study suggests that teens are receiving mixed messages about the risks of marijuana use and driving. About a quarter (22%) of the teens surveyed said that driving under the influence of marijuana is common among their friends. Also, 73% of teens think that cannabis makes someone a worse driver while 88% said the same thing about alcohol.
“Driving under the influence of marijuana significantly impairs motor coordination, judgment and reaction time,” warned Liberty Mutual lead driving safety and technical consultant Mike Sample, MS, CSP. “Parents and teens alike must appreciate the importance of not driving under the influence of marijuana to help keep everyone safe on the road.”
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