Exploring perceptions among people who drive after cannabis use: Collision risk, comparative optimism and normative influence

Abstract

Introduction and Aims. While the perceived risks of driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) have been a focus of recent drug-driving research, relevant concepts from the social cognition literature have rarely been applied to inform understanding of DUIC. This study aims to expand knowledge of perceived collision risk and social influences associated with DUIC and driving after other substance use. Design and Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants of a remedial program for impaired drivers. Thematic analysis began with two independent coders. Early discussion of emergent themes resulted in the identification of applicable social cognition concepts, resulting in selective coding and interpretation. Results. Many participants identified DUIC as less risky than driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Mixed perceptions regarding the dangerousness of DUIC were expressed, with some participants denying increased collision risk except among novice cannabis users. Comparative optimism bias was also expressed by participants who perceived themselves as less likely than others to be involved in a collision when DUIC. In view of normative influence, friends were generally seen as more accepting of DUIC than family, and there were indications that the opinions of others who use cannabis were regarded as more credible than the opinions of those who do not use the drug. Discussion and Conclusions. Comparative optimism bias and normative influence may contribute to perceived risks associated with DUIC and may, therefore, be useful concepts to employ to increase the effectiveness of public health and road safety initiatives. [Wickens CM, Watson TM, Mann RE, Brands B. Exploring perceptions among people who drive after cannabis use: Collision risk, comparative optimism and normative influence. Drug Alcohol Rev 2019;38:443-451]

“Just a Habit”: Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis as Ordinary, Convenient, and Controllable Experiences According to Drivers in a Remedial Program

“…I enjoy the way it makes me feel” (Interview 1). Collision risk perceptions among our study’s sample are examined in a companion article (Wickens et al, 2019); thus, we refrain from detailing those findings here. Nonetheless, it is important to reiterate that numerous participants in our study did not consider cannabis use to negatively affect their driving or be associated with any significantly increased risk of collision.…”

“…Participants clearly made their own subjective appraisals of their level of impairment from cannabis use (often by drawing comparisons based on how they perceive others’ potential impairment—another topic we have previously explored; see again Wickens et al, 2019). Based on these self-appraisals, again, many felt that they were capable of driving at the time of their last or a typical instance of DUIC, with some adding that if they ever felt “too high” they would not drive.…”

“…To date, studies examining drug-driving often focus on risk perceptions as reasons for the behavior, without asking about or examining in detail some of the other reasons among drivers. Furthermore, there are relatively few qualitative investigations of drug-driving and, specifically, DUIC (see Barrie, Jones, & Wiese, 2011; Danton, Misselke, Bacon, & Done, 2003; Greene, 2018; McIntosh, O’Brien, & McKeganey, 2008; Watson et al, 2019; Wickens et al, 2019), and hence, such studies have only begun to contribute to our understanding of why people engage in DUIC. As qualitative methods provide participants with opportunities to give nuanced and detailed answers regarding behavior (DiCicco-Bloom & Crabtree, 2006; May, 2011), a goal of our study was to employ one-to-one interviews to gain in-depth information about DUIC motives and contexts from people with recent firsthand DUIC experience.…”

Are Current Drug Driving Enforcement Strategies Achieving the Desired Effect? Drug Users’ Perceptions of Drug Driving Legislation and Enforcement in Queensland

“…The results were mixed, although drug driving was often perceived as more common than drink driving because it was believed to be safer and the chances of being caught were much lower, given their lack of exposure to RDT (response 1; R1). Such comparative perceptions have also been identified in prior research (Malhotra et al 2017;Wickens et al Fig. 1 The proposed topics of the study and associated themes within the data 2019), and re-enforce the potential increased risk for drug driving propensity.…”

“…Secondly, research has demonstrated that frequent drug users generally perceive that (a) their driving ability is not impaired following use (Barrie et al 2011;Davey et al 2005;Hasan et al 2022;Wilson and Wilson 2010), and (b) in comparison, legal substances, such as strong prescription medications (i.e. benzodiazepines and opioids) and alcohol, are comparatively treated with leniency, despite perceptually having more debilitating effects towards driving (Boehnke et al 2016;Wickens et al 2019). As identified in defiance theory, one of the driving forces behind offending behaviour is that of whether an individual perceives current sanctions to be just.…”