Cannabis-using older drivers were pulled over more often but did not have significantly more crashes

Of 2,095 active drivers aged 65-79, 186 (8.9%) used cannabis in the past year. After adjusting for demographics and mental health, cannabis use was associated with significantly more traffic stops (aPR=1.58, 95% CI 1.06-2.35, p=0.024) but the association with motor vehicle crashes did not reach significance (p=0.086). Most older cannabis users reported rarely driving immediately after use.

Cross-sectional analysis from the AAA LongROAD multi-center study of active drivers aged 65-79. Self-reported cannabis use, motor vehicle crashes, and traffic stops in the past 12 months were collected through participant interviews. Log-binomial regression adjusted for site, demographics, and mental health.

As cannabis legalization expands and the population ages, understanding how cannabis affects older drivers fills a critical safety gap, since most cannabis-driving research has focused on younger populations.

The disconnect between increased traffic stops and non-significant crash increases may reflect subtle driving impairments detectable by police but insufficient to cause crashes, or it may indicate that older adults who use cannabis drive more cautiously.

Cross-sectional design. Self-reported cannabis use and crash data. Past-year cannabis use does not capture timing relative to driving. Relatively few cannabis users in the sample limits statistical power for crash analysis.