How Students in 6 Countries View the Dangers of Driving After Cannabis vs. Alcohol
In a survey of over 5,000 university students across 6 countries, most rated impaired driving as dangerous, but perceptions varied significantly by country, with some viewing cannabis-impaired driving as less threatening.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Less than 12% of students across all countries endorsed impaired driving. Significant cross-national differences emerged: England and Spain rated alcohol-impaired driving as less threatening, while Argentina rated cannabis-impaired driving as less threatening. Students with prior DUI experience and men in some countries held more favorable risk perceptions.
Key Numbers
5,167 students from 6 countries. 70% women. Mean age 20.1 years. Less than 12% endorsed impaired driving in any country. Argentina rated cannabis DUI as less threatening. England and Spain rated alcohol DUI as less threatening. Prior DUI history linked to lower risk perceptions.
How They Did This
Cross-national survey of 5,167 university students across Argentina, Canada, England, Spain, South Africa, and the United States (70% women, mean age 20.1). Online survey assessed past-year impaired driving frequency, passenger experiences, and risk perceptions. Chi-square tests with Bonferroni corrections for pairwise comparisons.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis legalization expands globally, understanding how young drivers perceive cannabis-impaired driving across different legal contexts can inform targeted prevention campaigns and enforcement strategies.
The Bigger Picture
Risk perception differences across countries likely reflect local laws, enforcement levels, and cultural norms around substances. Countries with less cannabis enforcement may produce drivers who underestimate the risks, suggesting prevention campaigns need cultural tailoring.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
University students not representative of general driving population. Self-reported DUI may underestimate actual behavior. Cross-sectional design cannot determine if perceptions drive behavior or vice versa. Convenience sampling limits generalizability.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis legalization change how young drivers perceive impairment risk?
- ?How does enforcement visibility affect these perceptions?
- ?Would targeted campaigns change behavior in low-perception countries?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Large cross-national sample with consistent methodology, but convenience sampling of university students limits generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026, providing timely cross-national data as more countries consider cannabis legalization.
- Original Title:
- Risk Perceptions Related to Driving After Use of Alcohol and Cannabis in a Cross-National Sample of University Students in 6 Countries.
- Published In:
- Substance use & addiction journal, 47(1), 112-122 (2026)
- Authors:
- Csölle, Kianna, Amlung, Michael(5), Bravo, Adrian J(4), Ortet-Walker, Jordi, Vidal Arenas, Verónica, Michelini, Yanina, Romano, Eduardo
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08192
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do young people think driving after cannabis is safe?
Most don't — less than 12% endorsed impaired driving across all 6 countries. However, perceptions varied: students in Argentina, for example, viewed cannabis-impaired driving as less threatening than students elsewhere.
Do people who've driven impaired think it's less dangerous?
Yes — students who reported prior impaired driving were more likely to view it as less threatening, suggesting that experience without negative consequences may reinforce risky behavior.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08192APA
Csölle, Kianna; Amlung, Michael; Bravo, Adrian J; Ortet-Walker, Jordi; Vidal Arenas, Verónica; Michelini, Yanina; Romano, Eduardo. (2026). Risk Perceptions Related to Driving After Use of Alcohol and Cannabis in a Cross-National Sample of University Students in 6 Countries.. Substance use & addiction journal, 47(1), 112-122. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342251356352
MLA
Csölle, Kianna, et al. "Risk Perceptions Related to Driving After Use of Alcohol and Cannabis in a Cross-National Sample of University Students in 6 Countries.." Substance use & addiction journal, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342251356352
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Risk Perceptions Related to Driving After Use of Alcohol and..." RTHC-08192. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/csolle-2026-risk-perceptions-related-to
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.