Marijuana and DUI Fatal Crashes By Time of Day Are Startlingly Different. Marijuana Fatal Crashes Dominates Daytime During Populated Rush Hour Traffic Before and After Work

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 10, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For 11 consecutive daytime 1 hour time periods, 6am to 5pm, the percentage of marijuana crashes exceeded DUI crashes. DUI crashes dominate the evening hours and occur during some of the least populated road times. For 8 consecutive evening time periods, 8pm to 4am, the percentage of DUI crashes exceeded marijuana crashes.

In addition, Marijuana fatal crashes had their heaviest 4-hour time period from 6 to 10 pm in the early evening compared to DUI crashes at 10pm to 2am. Day of week for Marijuana fatal crashes occur about equally daily, where DUI crashes occur more frequently on weekends.

Further, 73% marijuana drivers were killed in the crash, and more than 1000 others were killed in the crash. The nearly 10 marijuana driving fatalities a day is the devastating result of increasing marijuana legalization. The top 4-hour period for marijuana fatal crashes was 4 to 8 pm during rush hour traffic after work. Marijuana Drivers also DUI have fatal crashes peak slightly later, 6-10 pm versus DUI crashes occurring late at night (11 pm -3 am) after bars close. Day of week for Marijuana fatal crashes occur about equally daily, where DUI crashes occur more on weekends.

Note that a marijuana high can be obtained in less than 2 minutes whereas a 180-lb. man would have to consume 9 drinks in a one hour to be at the median BAC of fatal crash drivers of 0.18 BAC. Marijuana fatal crashes are nearly half the DUI percentage and are increasing due to marijuana legalization. Both recreational use states (CO and WA) have 24% of crashes marijuana related, and are approaching the national level of 30% for alcohol fatal crashes. Nationally, the percent of drivers tested for drugs is less than 50% and masks the true impact of marijuana driving. A major factor in marijuana crashes is that. 38% of Marijuana drivers were speeding, and 48% not occupant restrained. Also, 39% of Marijuana drivers also DUI.

Law enforcement must develop strategies to combat the emerging problem of marijuana impaired driving. The strategies include 1) early roadside screening with oral swabs and breath testing, 2) using standard field sobriety tests to determine driving impairment which has been found to be highly accurate for marijuana, and 3) knowledge that marijuana fatalities occur mostly in the day time and peak immediately before and after work hours.

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