Risk perceptions of cannabis- vs. alcohol-impaired driving among Canadian young people

Abstract

Cannabis-impaired driving (CID) is associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents. A number of studies have reported on the prevalence of CID and/or riding in a vehicle with a cannabis-impaired driver (RCID), which appears to have increased in certain jurisdictions. However, there is little evidence on beliefs and perceptions of risk associated with CID vs. alcohol-impaired driving (AID). This study examined perceptions of CID and AID, prevalence of CID, and associations with cannabis use status. Respondents aged 16–30 years in Canada (n = 870) were recruited via a commercial panel and completed an online survey in October 2017. Perceptions of risk for CID were significantly lower than those for AID (p < .001). Cannabis use status predicted past CID, RCID, and low perceived risk of motor vehicle accidents (p ≤ .01). CID behaviors were prevalent among young people in Canada: over 40% of respondents reported RCID, and 17% reported CID – including over a third of past-year cannabis users. Respondents also reported a lower willingness to intervene (p < .001) and reduced likelihood of legal consequences (p < .001) of CID compared to AID. These perceptions may be important barriers to reducing CID and should be prioritized in public education campaigns targeting both youth and young adults.

Keywords:

• Cannabis
• alcohol
• driving
• youth
• young people
• risk

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Vicki Rynard for creating the sample weights. Results of this study were presented at the 12th ISSDP Conference (Vancouver, BC, Canada; May 2018).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data availability

The data associated with this study are available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst Grant; and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Public Health Agency of Canada Applied Chair in Public Health (awarded to Hammond).