Whether you smoke, vape or swallow edibles, getting behind the wheel when you're high on marijuana poses a risk to everyone on the road. In fact, next to alcohol, marijuana is the drug most commonly found in drivers who have been involved in collisions.

Canada legalized recreational marijuana in October. Here in the United States, a majority of states currently permit the legal use of marijuana for some purposes. In New York State, medical marijuana is legal and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is calling for the legalization of adult recreational marijuana this year. 

"AAA has grave concerns regarding the impact recreational marijuana legalization will have on the safety of our roadways," said John Corlett, legislative committee chairman for AAA New York State. 

Concerns include, but are not limited to:

• A significant increase in drugged driving and marijuana-involved fatal crashes.
• A lack of tools to measure impairment based on the presence of THC, the chief intoxicant in marijuana
• A lack of understanding by the public about the impairment capabilities of today's marijuana and the impact it has on driving ability.

What We Know

Marijuana impairs a person's ability to operate a vehicle safely. Marijuana can adversely impact driver performance, for instance, by increasing reaction times.

What It Means

Whether the use of marijuana is legal or not, all motorists should avoid driving while impaired. Just because a drug is legal to consume does not mean it is safe to use while operating a motor vehicle. If you get behind the wheel while you're impaired by any substance, you put all road users at risk.

What is AAA Doing?

AAA is committed to educating motorists and the general public about the risk of substance-impaired driving. AAA is initiating new research to improve understanding on the topic and will host an Impaired Driving Summit this spring with safety stakeholders in an effort to reduce the impact of substance-impaired driving related crashes. For more information, contact news@nyaaa.com.

AAA Research

Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that, in Washington state, the percentage of fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana had more than doubled - from 8 percent to 17 percent - one year after the state legalized the drug for recreational use. This translates to one in six drivers involved in fatal crashes testing positive for active THC, the ingredient in marijuana that causes impairment. 

Local Educational Efforts

The Auto Club of Western & Central NY Foundation for Traffic Safety Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting traffic safety education and raising awareness of safe driving practices to reduce traffic related deaths and injuries. For more information or to make a donation, go to: AAA.com/Foundation.