This year will be California’s first official with legal marijuana, and AAA wants to make sure you're safe on the roads.
"It doesn’t matter if you’re drinking alcohol or using recreational marijuana, there’s never an excuse to drive impaired,” John Moreno, public policy manager for AAA Northern California, said.
According to JAMA Internal Medicine, deadly accidents spike 12 percent on 4/20, which is comparable to the deadly crash rates that happen on Super Bowl Sunday.
Deadly marijuana accidents doubled in Washington after the state legalized the drug, according to the latest research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. AAA estimates that a first-time DUI conviction can cost a motorist more than $10,000 in fines, penalties, legal fees and increased insurance costs.
"You should always plan for a safe ride home, but if those plans fall through, AAA will get you and your vehicle home safely on 4/20," Moreno said. "We want to keep intoxicated drivers off our roadways, which keeps all of us safer.”
AAA Tipsy Tow service will start 4:20 p.m. on Friday, April 20, and continue until 4:20 a.m. April 21. You can get a free ride home and vehicle tow of up to 10 miles. Call 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357) and state that you need a Tipsy Tow. Drivers should be prepared to provide their name, home address, phone number, location and vehicle description.