Marijuana Use More Than Doubles Risk of Car Accident

According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, individuals who smoke marijuana within a few hours of driving are two times more likely than non-impaired motorists to be involved in a car accident resulting in serious injury or death. This study clarifies earlier studies which produced mixed results with respect to the correlation between the risk of motor vehicle accidents and recent marijuana use. Marijuana use makes it more difficult to assess distance between cars, often leading to tailgating and erratic driving, which when combined with a driver’s reduced reaction time, leads to an increased risk of an accident.

The 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health claimed that more than ten million people admitted to driving after using an illegal drug, with marijuana being the most common. Although there is not an effective roadside test to accurately detect when a driver is under the influence of drugs, researches behind this study are hopeful that their findings can be used as the basis for campaigns against drug impaired driving.

If you or someone you know has been hit by a driver under the influence of drugs, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211.