Since Marijuana Legalization, Highway Fatalities in Colorado are at Near-Historic Lows

In an August, 2014 article titled, "Since Marijuana Legalization, High Fatalities in Colorado are at Near-Historic Lows," explains how the legalization has resulted in lower highway fatality rates. It makes sense that loosening restrictions on pot would result in a higher percentage of drivers involved in fatal traffic accidents having smoked the drug at some point over the past few days. A post-accident test for marijuana metabolites doesn't tell us much at all about whether pot contributed to the accident.



The best way to gauge the effect legalization has had on the roadways is to look at what happened on the roads since legalization. The data graphic on the right shows highway fatalities in Colorado in the first seven months of this year, last year, highest fatality figures since 2002, the lowest, and the average. Roadway fatalities this year are more down from last, and down from the 13-year average.

The data graphic below shows the total fatalities from January through July. Whats notable here is that the totals so far in 2014 are closer to the safest composite year since 2002 than to the average year since 2002. The continuing drop in roadway fatalities in Colorado is due to other factors including better built cars, improved safety features, and better road engineering. These figures only indicate that the roads are getting safer; they don't suggest that pot had anything to do with it.

Some researchers have even said that better access to pot is making roads safer. The theory is that people are substituting pot for alcohol because pot causes less driver impairment than booze. However, this is just a theory more research needs to be done for confirmation. 

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