— Cannabis-impaired driving is a growing security issue as more states legislate its usage
by
Associated Press
July 20, 2024
A dreadful crash that eliminated 6 high school ladies in Oklahoma 2 years back has the head of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) advising moms and dads to alert teens about the danger of driving after utilizing cannabis.
Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy made the interest moms and dads Thursday as her firm launched the last report on the March 22, 2022 accident in between a small Chevrolet Spark hatchback and a gravel-hauling semi in the village of Tishomingo.
The board, after an examination by its personnel, identified that the crash was triggered by the 16-year-old motorist slowing for a crossway, then speeding up through a stop indication due to the fact that she likely was hindered by current cannabis usage and was sidetracked by having 5 teen travelers in the vehicle, the NTSB report stated.
In an interview, Homendy likewise stated the marijuana issue isn’t restricted to teenagers. As more states have actually legislated leisure cannabis, teenagers and grownups tend to ignore the threats of driving under its impact.
“There’s an understanding that in states where it’s legal that it’s safe and legal to drive impaired on cannabis,” she stated.
In its report on the crash, the NTSB mentioned research studies revealing that cannabis reduces motor coordination, slows response time, and hinders judgment of time and range, all important functions for driving.
Presently, it’s legal for individuals 21 and older to utilize cannabis recreationally in 24 states plus Washington, D.C., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Oklahoma does not enable leisure usage, however like a lot of states, it’s legal for medical functions. Driving whil