Today we submitted the following journal manuscript for review based on a collaboration between our center and two leading institutes on surveys and drugged driving (PIRE: https://www.pire.org/ and NORC:  https://www.pire.org/):

Ward, N.J., Schell, W., Otto, J., Finley, K., Kelly-Baker, T., & Lacey, J.H. (under review).  ¬The culture of intention to drive after using cannabis.  Submitted to Transportation Research Part F:  Traffic Psychology and Behavior (https://www.journals.elsevier.com/transportation-research-part-f-traffic-psychology-and-behaviour/).  

This study examines the influence that traffic safety culture has on the intention to drive after using cannabis in the next six months.  Here, traffic safety culture was defined as “the values and beliefs shared among groups of road users and stakeholders that influence their decisions to behave in ways that improve traffic safety.”  

To operationalize this definition, a 12 item survey was developed with a binary response (yes, no) based on an integrated model predicting intentional behavior.  The roadside sampling plan was developed with the goal of obtaining a Friday daytime and weekend nighttime sample that was representative of drivers across Washington State (n = 432).  

Self-reported behavior of driving after using cannabis in the past six months was high (55.8%), but future intention was low (11.1%).  Intention to drive after using cannabis was predicted by the perceptions that doing so was enjoyable and cool as well as not impairing driving ability and not being disapproved by significant others.  

The results of this study suggest that strategies to address cultural perceptions about driving after using cannabis may be effective in reducing such behaviors.