By Annie Kirk, Public Health Injury Prevention Program & King County Target Zero Manager
This weekend includes a highly anticipated day for some. We want to remind you that while it’s legal to use cannabis, it’s NOT legal to drive under the influence—if your plans include celebrating, you also need plans for a safe ride home.
WTSC Cannabis DUI PSA from C+C on Vimeo.
Driving while high increases your chance of getting in a crash, and becomes even more dangerous when combined with alcohol use. Fortunately, most Washington drivers don’t drive after consuming alcohol or cannabis, and most Washington drivers know it’s unsafe to do so.
Unfortunately, alcohol and drug impaired driving is still the leading factor in fatal crashes in Washington, and accounts for nearly half of all traffic deaths. Alcohol and cannabis is the most common combination of intoxicants among drivers in these fatal crashes.
The good news? We can all improve safety on our streets! Crashes are preventable and you can help by making plans for a safe ride before your party or celebration begins.
Need another reason to plan? Law enforcement are running extra DUI patrols this weekend throughout King County looking for impaired drivers. Help us get the word out and get everyone a safe ride home in a car, bus, train, cab, Uber, or Lyft.
To help you plan your safe ride, the Seattle Department of Transportation and Lyft are offering $4.20 off of rides on Saturday, April 20th with promo code 420SEA19. The promo code is open to new or existing Lyft users.
Be safe out there, King County! If you want to learn more about the importance of safe ride plans, check out the below joint public service announcement by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and longtime marijuana activist and Hempfest director Vivian McPeak.
To learn more about improving safety on our streets year round, go to wadrivetozero.com.
