A third of young cannabis-using drivers in Ontario reported driving under the influence, with 42% planning to do so again
Among 426 young Ontario drivers, 33.3% reported past cannabis-impaired driving and 42% indicated at least a slight chance of doing so in the next year, with past behavior and low moral awareness as key predictors.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
33.3% of respondents reported past DUIC and 42% indicated future DUIC intention. Six predictors of DUIC intention emerged: past DUIC incidence, perceived conviction penalty rate, moral awareness, perceived dangerousness, minor accident risk perception, and vicarious punishment avoidance.
Key Numbers
426 respondents; 52.6% female; 83.6% had used cannabis; 69.5% past-year use; 33.3% reported DUIC; 42% intended future DUIC; 6 significant predictors identified
How They Did This
Cross-sectional validated questionnaire based on general deterrence and prevention theory, administered to 426 young drivers (ages 16-24) in Ontario, Canada. Ordinal regression examined predictors of DUIC intention.
Why This Research Matters
The high prevalence of both past and intended DUIC among young drivers, combined with identifiable attitudinal predictors, provides clear targets for prevention programs.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that moral awareness and perceived dangerousness predict DUIC intention suggests that prevention programs emphasizing personal responsibility and real crash risk may be more effective than fear-based approaches focused solely on legal consequences.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-selected sample of young drivers, Ontario-specific, cross-sectional design, self-reported DUIC which may be underreported, questionnaire validation was part of the same study.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would interventions targeting these six predictors actually reduce DUIC behavior?
- ?Has legalization changed any of these attitudinal predictors?
- ?Are there effective brief interventions for DUIC prevention?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 33.3% reported past DUIC and 42% intended to drive cannabis-impaired again
- Evidence Grade:
- Validated questionnaire study with robust regression analysis in a targeted population
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 from Ontario, Canada, after cannabis legalization.
- Original Title:
- Young drivers' determinants of driving under the influence of cannabis: Findings from the Youth Cannabis and Driving Survey (YouCanDS).
- Published In:
- Journal of safety research, 78, 229-241 (2021)
- Authors:
- Colonna, Robert(4), Hand, Carri L, Holmes, Jeffrey D, Alvarez, Liliana
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03071
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabis-impaired driving among young people?
In this Ontario study of 426 young drivers, a third had driven under the influence of cannabis, and 42% indicated they would likely do so again in the next year.
What makes young people drive after using cannabis?
The strongest predictors were having done it before, low moral concern about the behavior, low perception of danger, and not believing they would be caught and penalized.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03071APA
Colonna, Robert; Hand, Carri L; Holmes, Jeffrey D; Alvarez, Liliana. (2021). Young drivers' determinants of driving under the influence of cannabis: Findings from the Youth Cannabis and Driving Survey (YouCanDS).. Journal of safety research, 78, 229-241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2021.05.001
MLA
Colonna, Robert, et al. "Young drivers' determinants of driving under the influence of cannabis: Findings from the Youth Cannabis and Driving Survey (YouCanDS).." Journal of safety research, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2021.05.001
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Young drivers' determinants of driving under the influence o..." RTHC-03071. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/colonna-2021-young-drivers-determinants-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.