In an exclusive AAA poll, 72 percent of Pennsylvania drivers say they are somewhat or very concerned about the dangers posed by others driving under the influence of marijuana, should it be legalized for recreational use. An overwhelming 92 percent of those surveyed by AAA consider someone driving after using illegal drugs a serious threat to their safety.
“Drugged driving is a problem that is quickly – and somewhat quietly – surpassing drunk driving as a major highway safety threat,” said Jana Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Because AAA is a consistent champion of road safety, we wanted to start the public conversation about this issue before it’s too late.”
More AAA Pennsylvania poll findings:
- Fifty-four percent correctly identify drug overdoses as the leading cause of death in Pennsylvania when asked to choose among overdoses, traffic crashes, shootings and falls.
- Only 32 percent believed that Pennsylvania has more incidents of drug overdose than the rest of US. Fifty-three percent think Pennsylvania has about the same number of drug overdoses as other states, while 8 percent think Pennsylvania has fewer incidents.
Surprisingly, the poll of more than 1,250 licensed drivers in Pennsylvania revealed that motorists have quickly grasped the dire threat to their safety posed by others driving under the influence of illegal drugs. This is especially significant when considering the number of years it took to change social perceptions about the dangers posed by drinking and driving.
