There is evidence that the legalization of recreational marijuana use here in Colorado has led to people believing it is legal to drive while under the influence of it. This could not be further from the truth. Driving after using marijuana could lead to fatal motor vehicle accidents just as easily as drinking and driving, texting and driving or driving drowsy.
Unfortunately, that fact is not as well known as it should be. Research indicates that approximately 33 percent of teenagers think that it is okay to drive after using marijuana since it is now legal. Some adults are under the same impression. They forget that alcohol is legal as well, but it is not legal to drive when one’s blood alcohol level is more than the statutory prohibition.
Several of the teens and adults that participated in the survey that led to this data know people who use marijuana and drive. In fact, many said that they see it often. That puts a significant amount of people on Colorado’s roadways with slower reaction times, impaired judgment and impaired motor coordination. That’s not a good mix when it comes to operating a vehicle.
Numerous people across the state may not realize just how many drivers may be high while driving. They could easily become the victims of fatal motor vehicle accidents if a driver high on pot makes a mistake. If that happens, the surviving family members of the victims will not only have to cope with the loss of a loved one, but also with the financial losses that inevitably occur. They may exercise their right to file a wrongful death claim seeking restitution for those losses.
Source: USA Today, “Smoking marijuana and driving: 33% of teens think it’s legal. Some think it isn’t dangerous“, Ashley May, Accessed on Nov. 12, 2017