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.
somebody should not be penalized for something overrated in it's "dangers"...meaning that if the driver likes to have a smoke session on his time off, this is to his discretion...of course if an accident occur than test the bastard!
All this while driving?
I was referring to the WOD more specifically, as that issue tends to bring out the worst in people, at least on this forum.
It is sad that the stereotypes fit!
Stoned. Pothead. zonked. whacked out. Bongos. farmhands.
"It's hard to get into an accident when you're only going 4 mph."
LOL!
Dude, where's my car?
It has been my observation though that the paranoia factor seems to make pot-smoking drivers less prone to risk-taking.
And yet, the author didn't come out an suggest pot be made legal, just that people shouldn't be penalized for doing something illegal. Maybe the illegal immigrants can get even more liberal support if they all become potheads too...
He would space off no matter where he was, I wouldn't trust him to drive stoned! HECK NO! he would probably space cadet and rear end into someone or something! sheeesh!
Well, when are they going to conduct a study on the amount of auto accidents caused by slippery steering wheels --- slippery because they're covered in Cheetos funk!!!
When I was in college we used to say:
When driving drunk, you don't care if you're drunk, you just drive. (AKA, alcohol is legal.)
When driving high on marijuana, you are TRYING really hard to drive. (Marijuana is illegal, and you don't want to be charged with driving impaired, never mind also being charged with driving while under the influence of an illegal substance.)
And in some jurisdictions, one or two drinks an hour with a meal will qualify you for a DUI. It doesn't matter if you think you're not drunk---what matters is the amount of alcohol in your system.
Your "just to catch a buzz" reasoning is absolutely childish.
anything a bit less speculative...easy to get your point passed on with emotion realted terms...
How much pot did you smoke today?
and what part don't you understand that smoking pot doesn't equal to get high! you are putting all the pot user in the same category! please consider in expending your horizon! pot is oftenly used for social occasions! but yes a lot of them (more the teens) use it to get high as much as they use alcool to get high also!
yes you're right on the WOD thing!
Yes, it does. Give 1-2 drinks in an hour, even with a meal, to a first-time drinker, and they will have a buzz. Experienced drinkers have a mild buzz also, but it is less noticeable because they have elevated tolerance. Alcohol affects the body from the first sip.
Cannabis connoisseurs.
??? hum hum...yeah...so brilliant! what a great opened mind! let's put what you don't like in the same category!
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waht are you talking about again?? she don't want people not be penalized fro illegal things! you're trying in vain to decrease her credibility, good strategy i guess!
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