Teens smoke pot, say it has no effect on their driving

A recent survey by insurance company Liberty Mutual, cited in Bloomberg, found that teens who drove after smoking pot “said the drug either improves their performance behind the wheel or is no hindrance.” The survey found that 41% of teens said that marijuana had “no effect” on their ability to drive. Even more disturbing, 34% said that marijuana actually improves their driving. Of the teens surveyed, 23% had driven after drinking alcohol or using marijuana or a prescription drug. 1,708 teens in 11^th and 12^th grade at 26 schools across the country contributed to the survey.

Teens More Likely to Engage in Risky Driving Behaviors If Their Parents Do

As we’ve discussed previously, 99% of Americans consider themselves to be safe drivers, despite the fact that over 75% admitted to performing dangerous activities behind the wheel. The people surveyed admitted to eating, drinking beverages, speeding, driving while tired, and using a cell phone while behind the wheel. The study demonstrates a clear disconnect between drivers’ perception of their driving abilities and their actual driving abilities. This disconnect makes it difficult for a driver to honestly examine their driving behavior and make corrections, which is perhaps why more than 3,000 people were killed and over 416,000 were injured in crashes involving distracted driving in 2010—despite the ample evidence available to the public showing the dangers of distracted driving.

States Consider Texting Bans As The Number of People Texting While Driving Increases