A study has found that one-third of people, who have died in road accidents, have consumed drugs while alcohol abuse caused only 13% of these deaths. This was determined after analyzing 1046 people who died in roads accidents between 2004 and 2009.

The number of drivers who tested positive for cannabis and died in accidents increased from 22% in 1992 to 30% in the study. It has also revealed that more youngsters are dying due to cannabis and other drugs as compared to alcohol.

Almost 33% of the dead people under the age of 20, and 40% of the dead under the age of 25 used cannabis. Only 27% of the drivers were affected by alcohol, which establishes that cannabis and other drugs are significantly more harmful as compared to alcohol.

Experts feel that more efforts should be made to make people understand the harmful effects of cannabis and other drugs. Most of these accidents were caused between midday and midnight.

The study also found that it is wrong to blame Maoris for accidents as only 33% of them were involved in fatal accidents as compared to 60% of the Europeans.

The Government is also urged to take more steps so that the lives of youngsters are saved and the number of accidents is also reduced.