A new survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted onlineby Harris Poll on behalf ofthe Property CasualtyInsurers Association of America ("PCI"), has foundthat more Americans consider using social media (99%) and texting(98%) on a cell phone to be dangerous while driving than beingunder the influence of marijuana (91%).

Although the vast majority of Americans (91%) believe drivingunder the influence of marijuana is dangerous and a similarpercentage (87%) say those who do so are a hazard to others on theroad, just two in five (40%) believe it is contributing to moremotor vehicle crashes.

Related: Traffic deaths continue to rise in U.S., but don'tblame texting

Distracted driving, which includes actions suchas using a cell phone, talking to passengers, eating, and adjustingthe radio, tops the list as the number one perceived contributor(92%) to the increase in crashes across the country. 

Impairs judgment, coordination & reactiontime 

"Driving under the influence of marijuana is extremelydangerous," said Robert Gordon, senior vice president atPCI. "In fact, driving under the influence of marijuana should beviewed with the same risks as drunk or distracted driving. When you're high, it can impairyour judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time. We need moreresearch, public awareness, and better public policy to reduce thedangers of marijuana-impaired driving and to make our roads lessdangerous."

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia currently havelaws legalizing marijuana in some form (medical and/orrecreational), and according to the HighwayLoss Data Institute collision rates were about threepercent higher in three states that have approved the sale ofmarijuana for recreational use — Colorado, Oregon, andWashington.

Driving high is illegal

While these laws allow for the use of marijuana, driving high isillegal. Evidence shows that marijuana use can impair criticalabilities necessary for safe driving, such as divided attention,slow reaction time, lane tracking, and cognitive and executivefunctions.

The NationalSafety Council recently announced that we have seenthe worst two-year escalation in auto fatalities in more than 50years. Marijuana-impaired driving is one of the many factorsbelieved to be contributing to the recent increase in auto crashfrequency, particularly as more states liberalize their marijuanalaws.

Yet, according to the new PCI poll, just 31% of parents havediscussed the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuanawith their children, which pales in comparison to parents who havediscussed:

• Wearing a seatbelt all/most of the time (67%).
• Texting while driving (60%).
• Speeding while driving (54%).
• Talking on cell phone while driving (50%).
• Using social media while driving (40%).

"Parents need to discuss the dangers of driving under theinfluence of marijuana with their teenagers," Gordon continued. "Asmore states liberalize their marijuana laws, it is critical thatthe public become more aware of the dangers of driving high. Andthat awareness campaign should start at home, with conversationsbetween parents and their children about safe driving."

Related: Insurance implcations of legal marijuana: Questionscontinue to roll in

Victoria Prussen Spears, Esq., ([email protected]) is associate directorof FC&S Legal, editor ofthe Insurance Coverage LawReport, and senior vice president atMeyerowitz Communications Inc.