MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. April 20th is still months away, but some researchers are worried that it may become another deadly day for car accidents, drivers, pedestrians, and bikers. According to Vice, it isn’t clear why 4/20 became a slang term for marijuana use. However, for marijuana users, the day, April 20th, and the hour 4:20, have become closely linked to higher usage of marijuana. April 20th has become something of an unofficial holiday. According to Vice, you face a 12% greater risk of dying in a car crash on April 20th than other days of the year.
Researchers looked at the Department of Transportation data on car accident deaths, comparing 25 years’ worth of data to data gathered on April 20 after 4:20 p.m. The results were shocking. The risk to all drivers increased on April 20, but for drivers under age 21, the risk of dying in a car accident was greatest. In fact, the researchers found that it is just as deadly to drive on 4/20 as it is to drive on Super Bowl Sunday. 50% of college students who were surveyed admitted to using marijuana on April 20. This could potentially be avoided by those looking for marijuana on the day of 4/20, ordering their cannabis for delivery online on a site such as weedsmart.ca and other online dispensaries instead of venturing outside of their house when they aren’t sober.
The research may also help scientists understand the ways in which marijuana use can impact drivers. According to Vox, recreational marijuana use is now legal in nine states as well as Washington, D.C. Yet, critics and regulators have expressed concerns about how legalization of the drug will impact road safety and what measures need to be put in place to prevent users from driving while under the influence.
As it stands, all states recognize that some drugs cannot be as easily detected as alcohol. That’s why officers can often cite drivers for driving while under the influence, even if there is no immediate blood or breath test available to prove that the driver is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
So, what can you do to stay safe on April 20? First of all, if you plan to smoke or use marijuana, don’t drive. You not only put yourself at risk, but you also put others at risk as well. If you don’t smoke or use marijuana, it is important to flag 4/20 as a day where you should take extra precaution on the road. Don’t let your teens borrow the car. Avoid staying out late. And take extra care when driving at night on April 20.
Finally, if you or a loved one was injured while driving on April 20th, you may want to speak to the qualified personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While there are no blood or breath tests that can prove definitively that someone has been using before an accident, our attorneys can review the police reports from the accident and other evidence. If you believe you were hurt due to another person’s negligent decision to smoke and drive, you have rights. Contact our personal injury lawyers at https://martinmontilino.com/ today to learn more.