American Public More Troubled by Traditional Traffic Safety Issues than Marijuana-Impaired Driving
A recent survey from the Pew Research Center indicates that the American populace is significantly more troubled by traffic safety issues like cellphone-related distractions while driving, excessive speed, hostile driving behavior, and alcohol-impaired driving than they are about the risks of driving while affected by marijuana.
Survey Findings
While a considerable 82 percent of those surveyed perceive driving under the influence of cannabis as a concern—with 37 percent viewing it as a substantial problem and 45 percent as a smaller one—this ranks lower in comparison to other risky driving behaviors. A notable 96 percent of respondents find distracted driving due to cellphone use to be concerning. This is closely followed by concerns on speeding and aggressive driving, both alarming 94 percent and 93 percent of participants, respectively, and drunk driving with 92 percent expressing worry.
Geographic Differences
Differences also emerged based on geography in attitudes toward traffic safety. For individuals living in metropolitan areas, 42 percent consider marijuana-impaired driving a significant issue, compared to the 36 percent and 35 percent in suburban and rural districts, respectively.
The study further exposes that individuals in regions where marijuana is legal tend to view driving while high as a more severe problem in their localities—40 percent compared to the 35 percent in areas where it remains illegal.
Views on Cannabis Legalization
Both proponents and critics of cannabis legalization recognize the need to prevent marijuana-impaired driving, with proponents advocating for controlled legalization that can provide valuable education about the dangers of driving while intoxicated and furnish law enforcement with resources funded by lawful sales.
Research Findings
Research into the effects of legal cannabis on traffic safety produces mixed results. For instance, a statement from Frances Scott of the National Institute of Justice suggests that regular and occasional users may experience different levels of THC impact. Moreover, a 2019 Congressional Research Service report points out that while marijuana use can affect drivers’ reaction times and motor skills, studies are divided on how significantly it increases the risk of car accidents.
Conclusion
To summarize, even though the potential dangers of marijuana-impaired driving are recognized, the current perspective, according to the Pew Research Center’s findings, is that the issue of distracted driving, particularly due to cellphones, stands out as the more pressing traffic safety issue at the forefront of public concern.
