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Marijuana Not a Factor in Driving Accidents
University of Toronto ^ | March 29, 1999 | Professor Alison Smiley

Posted on 04/11/2006 9:28:21 AM PDT by davesdude

Marijuana Not a Factor in Driving Accidents

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March 29, 1999

The safety hazards of smoking marijuana and driving are overrated, says U of T researcher Alison Smiley.

Recent research into impairment and traffic accident reports from several countries shows that marijuana taken alone in moderate amounts does not significantly increase a driver's risk of causing an accident -- unlike alcohol, says Smiley, an adjunct professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering . While smoking marijuana does impair driving ability, it does not share alcohol's effect on judgment. Drivers on marijuana remain aware of their impairment, prompting them to slow down and drive more cautiously to compensate, she says.

"Both substances impair performance," Smiley says. "However, the more cautious behaviour of subjects who received marijuana decreases the drug's impact on performance. Their behaviour is more appropriate to their impairment, whereas subjects who received alcohol tend to drive in a more risky manner."

Smiley, who has studied transportation safety for over 25 years, drew her results from a "metanalysis" of existing research into the effects of marijuana on driving ability, combined with traffic accident statistics in the United States and Australia. Previous studies showing stronger effects often combined "fairly hefty doses" by researchers with driving immediately after consumption, likely exaggerating the drug's effects, she believes.

While Smiley does not advocate legalizing the drug, she says her results should be considered by those debating mandatory drug tests for users of transportation equipment such as truck or train drivers, or the decriminalization of marijuana for medical use. "There's an assumption that because marijuana is illegal, it must increase the risk of an accident. We should try to just stick to the facts."

Smiley presented her findings at a symposium of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Florida in February. Her paper was also published in Health Effects of Cannabis, a publication of Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in March.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: accidents; alcoholisworse; authorisoncrack; driving; drugs; drugskilledbelushi; heroinkilledbelushi; legalization; leroydiedofoverdose; libertarians; marijuana; mrleroybait; pot; thetruthcomesout; whosleroy; woddiecrushonleroy; wodlist
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To: dmz
I have found lots of MADD references to .02 being "possible impairment" or "impairment begins" but I have not found one page through this Search that states what that impairment is supposed to be.

I have never met a task after 2 drinks with a meal that I found to be even slightly challenging, let alone difficult to do because of impairment.

181 posted on 04/11/2006 1:28:03 PM PDT by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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To: American_Centurion

yep sorry for that and thanks! yo udon't mind if I answer back?


182 posted on 04/11/2006 1:28:22 PM PDT by davesdude
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To: davesdude
the drugs are doing more harm than if they were legal!

Are you an advocate of legalizing all drugs? Meth, crack, cocaine?

183 posted on 04/11/2006 1:30:16 PM PDT by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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To: davesdude

Did anybody mention the fact that Pot is NOT habit forming? I've been smoking for almost 40 years so I know what I'm talking about. I drove a 18 wheeler for about 35 of those. Like somebody said, the only problem I had was driving past my exit. I also had to watch the speedometer because I had a tendency to drive too slow. In all those years I never had a serious accident or a late delivery. I would rather be in a room full of pot smokers than a room full of liquor drinkers. My dream is to lock all world leaders in a room and blow pot smoke in there for several hours. The world would be a lot safer for everybody.


184 posted on 04/11/2006 1:30:22 PM PDT by killerw ("Marijuana is G-Ds way of saying, "I love you and want you to be happy and free of pain.")
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To: davesdude

Go for it.


185 posted on 04/11/2006 1:30:45 PM PDT by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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To: American_Centurion; dmz
sorry I didn't read far enough down the page.

No loss of coordination, slight euphoria and loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not apparent. Mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded.

186 posted on 04/11/2006 1:35:40 PM PDT by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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To: American_Centurion

Are you an advocate of legalizing all drugs? Meth, crack, cocaine?

i answered in your mail!


187 posted on 04/11/2006 1:36:31 PM PDT by davesdude
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To: American_Centurion
Yet pot is important enough for you to deal with criminals, and I'm sure the one's you deal with are ONLY MJ dealers, right? They would never give a free sample of crack to a kid hoping to get him hooked. Cause they got a vested interest in taking care of their customers.

Actually, yes---if one is interested in acquiring pot, one can find someone fairly reputable that sells only pot. Personally, I don't know many who've been "pushed" to other drugs by unscrupulous drug dealers who didn't want to go there in the first place.

You may not believe it, but not everyone who smokes pot is looking to graduate onto harder drugs . . . just like everyone who drinks isn't interested in "expensive scotch."


188 posted on 04/11/2006 1:36:37 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: davesdude
I think i would really give a lot of money to the one who can refute these points...

I've been here for seven years now, my Canuck friend. Still waitin'.

189 posted on 04/11/2006 1:37:32 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: AmericanRepublican
"Alcohol is exceedingly worse than pot when it comes to operation of pretty much anything let alone a vehicle. EXCEEDINGLY WORSE. Numerous facts will tell you this."

WHAT facts?........the article posted is from 1999!!!!!

maybe the fact that the cops routinely check for alcohol and not drugs automatically might just push the stats for DUI up without also implicating drugs......

people that push drug use ( or alcohol!)......I just want them to know that they must live with the ramifications of a drugged society.......

there are consequences to everything.....

BTW...if its okay according to some freepers to be high while driving a 2 ton vehicle than I guess its okay for docs and nurses to be a little high while doing surgery or injections or passing out cardiac meds......I guess maybe its okay for your laser eye doctor to take a little smoke at lunch as well......

190 posted on 04/11/2006 1:39:43 PM PDT by cherry
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To: cherry

haha! so much non sense! you are comparing cherries with elephent! since when driving takes as much dexterity than laser eye surgery! come down from your horses! i know the article is from 1999 but were people so retarded at that time??? and also i posted more articles more recent...jsut read or open your eyes!


191 posted on 04/11/2006 1:43:58 PM PDT by davesdude
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To: pageonetoo
"Having had experience with driving stoned, or being in the car with a drunk driving, I will drive stoned any time! I KNOW I will get home, unless some drunk hits me!!!"

you have kids?....you want them to stay alive?.....you better get on your wrinkled knees and pray to God that another little bitty pothead like you doesn't just take a chance and kill somebody.....

people like you are what is making this country into one gigantic sinking mound of dirt.....small character, small amount of societal responsibility, and so little respect for anyone else because its ALL ABOUT YOU isn't it...your needs, your desires.....

192 posted on 04/11/2006 1:48:01 PM PDT by cherry
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To: davesdude
Welcome to FR BTW. It seems you really enjoy your 'drug debates'.

From a previous thread:

yeah sorry i'm from canada! we are much luckier than you guys, or a lot more free! i just don't understand why you guys doesn't follow our exemple! no offense!

The successful Canadian gun registry is certainly a bastion of freedom, as is nationalized healthcare, and 'Canadian Content laws' for media, etc....

When every welfare program is abolished (including public education & healthcare), no govt wealth redistribution exists, and national concealed carry & castle doctrine laws are implemented, then by all means legalize whatever you want.
193 posted on 04/11/2006 1:50:37 PM PDT by proud_yank (A liberal's 'generosity' is limited to the funds available in someone else's account.)
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To: davesdude
put your eyes where your mouth is and go get laser eye surgery with a fellow pothead....

at least , the doc can only BLIND you....when you drive impaired, no matter from what....you can KILL MANY people.....

194 posted on 04/11/2006 1:52:12 PM PDT by cherry
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To: davesdude

you sound like a nazi!




There you go. When you can't argue your point, you point the nazi finger. Typical low threshold for logical thought among pot heads and former ph's.
LOL


195 posted on 04/11/2006 1:52:27 PM PDT by eleni121 ('Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!' (Julian the Apostate))
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To: American_Centurion
Secondly, ANYONE who smokes marijuana has already proven their judgement is severly impaired. Bluntly put, they are willing to break the law to get high, impared judgement is likely an understatement.

Secondly, ANYONE who drives too fast has already proven their judgement is severly impaired. Bluntly put, they are willing to break the law to get somewhere faster, impared judgement is likely an understatement.

Fixed it for you mommy

196 posted on 04/11/2006 1:52:42 PM PDT by BlueMondaySkipper (The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it. - George Orwell)
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To: BlueMondaySkipper

Learn the diff between a civil infraction, a misdemeanor, and a felony.

Then you might be able to really fix stuff instead of posting meaningless fluff and calling people names.


197 posted on 04/11/2006 1:54:46 PM PDT by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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To: cherry
you have kids?.

Kiss my ...

You have a problem, not me. I have five children. The oldest is a police officer. The next is a high school teacher. I have stay-at-home mommy daughters, and one in school, still.

You don't know anything about the subject, but seem quick to criticize me because you have a perception based on what, government propaganda sponsored by the booze industry? You think you can lecture me with your pious attitude, and condescention. Ha!

People like you are the bigger problem... You think you have the right to point fingers, but probably sneak around and hide your own little deviancies.

I surely have no respect for you, and the rest of the self-righteous folks like you! I have been able to amass one fortune, lose it all, and rebuild another. It wasn't caused by smoking pot. I lost it by taking a chance, in business. What can you proclaim about your life, dear? Should I sneak around and hide behind a rock, or be open and honest? I prefer the latter. I have nobody to impress, but my family and friends do think pretty highly of me.

I seem to remember a story about throwing stones, and another about motes and beams...

198 posted on 04/11/2006 2:10:29 PM PDT by pageonetoo (You'll spot their posts soon enough!)
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To: eleni121

haha getting funnier! there was nothing to argue on so i had just a bit of fun! you seem to me like the one who doesn't have any real argument on the subject! so please give some of your arguments others that "potheads"!!

it's even easier to do what you do...you say nothing all along the posts but when somebody makes an "error" you get sure to point it out!! so please proceed with in-topic arguments...


199 posted on 04/11/2006 2:16:54 PM PDT by davesdude
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To: American_Centurion
It's not a matter of think I'm not drunk, it's an absolute fact. Tested and proven with the explicit intent of knowing without any doubt or speculation that I will be well within the legal limit for BAC and that I drive just as prudently as I would with no alcohol in my system. Any person with the same body weight as me can confidently drink exactly as I have described here and drive with no impairment whatsoever. Smaller people and those on medications, your mileage may vary. I'm 38, and weigh 225, and I know absolutely without a doubt what my BAC will be 1 hour after 2 drinks with a meal And regardless of what you personally think is childish, the fact is using any substance with the intent of altering your state of perception is in fact abuse. Dismiss it if you wish, but my facts are rock solid.

Your facts are anything but rock solid. You equate BAC with impairment and that's just wrong. For example, if you just put in a 20 hour day and then stopped to eat and had 2 drinks over the course of an hour, you would be much more impaired than if you had the same meal and 3 drinks while well rested. Your BAC may be lower, but you would be more impaired and more likely to have an accident.
As far as impairment overall, surely you can recognize that there are a great deal of people out there who are effectively "impaired" while perfectly sober.

200 posted on 04/11/2006 2:20:49 PM PDT by BlueMondaySkipper (The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it. - George Orwell)
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