WELLINGTON COUNTY – A recent social media post on X from Safe Communities Wellington County shows 25 per cent of drivers aged 16 to 24 say they’ve driven after smoking, vaping, or ingesting cannabis.
Young people aged 16 to 24 report more cannabis use than other age groups in Canada and up to 25 per cent of 16- to 24-year-old cannabis users say they’ve driven after smoking, vaping or ingesting cannabis. #ourfutureroads #NTDSW2023 pic.twitter.com/kpmwvnTXOA
— Safe Communities WC (@SafeCWC) October 20, 2023
While these were national numbers, the organization says they mimic what goes on within the county.
Teen drivers killed in a crash are more than likely to test positive for cannabis, they went on to say.
With last week being teen driver safety week cross country, Safe Communities Wellington County Program Coordinator Christine Veit says one area in the county, is troublesome.
Veit stated a lot of younger drivers truly don’t believe cannabis has any negative impacts on driving.
Veit says Safe Communities Wellington County tries to make sure they speak with high schoolers, as well as grade fives throughout the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic.
She went on to say the increased access to cannabis since legalization in 2018 has made the issue tougher to handle. Safe Communities Wellington County partners with local stakeholders to help spread information regarding this topic.
Coming up is the Wellington County OPP Festive Ride Campaign in partnership with the youth advisory council.
