Public Safety
AAA: THC Amount Doubled in Victims of Fatal Crashes Since Pot Legalized in Washington State
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New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that of Washington state drivers involved in fatal crashes, the percentage who tested positive for active THC doubled since that state legalized pot in 2012. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
The increase after the state legalized recreational marijuana raises important traffic safety concerns for drivers across the country, said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “AAA’s message is if you’ve used marijuana, don’t drive,” she said. “And if you plan to drive, don’t use marijuana.”
The latest Foundation research reports nearly 9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes were positive for THC between 2008 and 2012 — the five-year period before the drug was legalized in Washington State. That percentage rose to 18% between 2013 and 2017, the research reports.