A new University of Saskatchewan study funded by CAA has found cannabis edibles significantly impair key driving abilities among young drivers, raising concerns as collision rates remain highest in the 19-to-30 age group.
Researchers analyzed the performance of 50 drivers and found reaction time, lane discipline and speed control were all affected after consuming edibles. Impairment peaked 90 minutes post-consumption – a point when most participants said they did not feel safe to drive.
Michael Stewart, community relations consultant for CAA South Central Ontario, says the findings reinforce the gap between perception and reality. While only four per cent of study participants felt safe driving after 90 minutes, a separate CAA survey shows 78 per cent of cannabis-impaired Ontario drivers remain confident in their abilities – a 13-point rise since 2021.
The survey also highlights a growing trend of poly-use, with 57 per cent of respondents combining cannabis with other substances such as alcohol, painkillers or psychedelics, further heightening risk.
CAA is urging motorists to plan ahead and avoid driving impaired as the holiday season approaches, stressing that cannabis-impaired driving carries the same dangers as alcohol.
