- New CAA study finds 19% of Ontario drivers used cannabis and then drove, a 5% increase from last year
- More than 90% of drivers think cannabis-impaired driving isn’t as bad as drunk driving
- And more than three-quarters of those using cannabis were confident they were able to drive
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Cannabis may be legal in Canada, but driving under its influence is not, and it seems a rising number of drivers aren’t getting that message. According to a new survey from CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO), some 53% of drivers have tried cannabis, up 14% from a study done last year. That itself is not an issue — what is, is that 19% of Ontario drivers admit to using cannabis and then driving a vehicle, and that’s up 5% from last year.
The study found that 52% of cannabis-impaired drivers got behind the wheel within three hours of consumption; and that 31% of drivers “reported feeling high while driving,” and 63% were concerned about getting caught. On top of that, 76% of drivers using cannabis “expressed confidence in their ability to drive.”
Of those who drove after using cannabis, 32% said they did because they didn’t think they’d consumed a significant amount; 32% had no alternative to getting home; and 28% did so because “the drive would be short anyway.”
Drivers obviously aren’t unaware of the issue, as 91% said they believe driving while impaired by cannabis is a “serious risk to road safety,” a concern that’s even higher among older drivers. However, when comparing cannabis impairment to other intoxicants, 95% said drunk driving is more dangerous, and 93% said impairment from illegal narcotics or opioids is worse than weed.
In Ontario, 74% of drivers have at least one cannabis store in their neighbourhood, up 14% from 2023; and 35% have four or more stores nearby, a 6% increase from last year.
“There is often a misconception on the effects cannabis can have on a driver,” said Michael Stewart, community relations consultant for CAA SCO. “However, it has been proven that driving impaired (on cannabis) can greatly impact a driver’s reaction time, coordination, and decision-making, just the same as it does when consuming alcohol. Cannabis can be safely consumed recreationally, but never when behind the wheel.”
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