Many young drivers do not recognize the dangers related to certain drugs such marijuana, prescription drugs and even over the counter medication. All drugs can alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, and other faculties required for safe driving.

Unfortunately, teens are just as likely to drive under the influence of marijuana as alcohol. According to Monitoring the Future data, approximately one in six (15 percent) teens reported driving under the influence of marijuana, a number nearly equivalent to those who reported driving under the influence of alcohol (16 percent), despite higher prevalence of alcohol consumption among teens.

• Marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving: alertness, the ability to concentrate, coordination, and reaction time.⁷

• These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking marijuana.⁷

• Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road.⁷

• In addition to alcohol, drugs cause a serious highway safety problem. Drugs are estimated to be used by approximately 10-22% of drivers involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol.⁸

• In an ongoing study of non-fatally injured drivers, 23.5% of those drivers under 21 tested positive for drugs other than alcohol.⁸

• For fatally injured drivers, marijuana had the highest percentages testing positive with a mean of 14%.⁹