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.
I was about to say "That's cool, dude!" until I noticed your Freeper name. So, I'll just say, nothing personal intended.
Government grant, eh? Nothing like it.
In most cases I think alcohol is worse than pot, though I don't think anyone should drive under the influence of either. I also don't think people should drive while talking on their cell phones.
Why drink and drive, when you can smoke and fly?
Absolutely!
I knew a fellow in college who swears he flew his private plane, three times, stoned, from Orlando to West Palm Beach.
No way to know if it's true, but it's quite a story.
Bottom line, though, is dope can't be good for you. And smoking dope and driving sounds like a dangerous pastime, regardless of how it compares to driving while drunk.
Interesting post. Thanks.
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.
I don't recall which poster was against legalization on a thread a couple of weeks ago because there was no field test for marijuana impairment. Sounds like that's not the stumbling block some might make it out to be.
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/bldea050426_5.htm
might as well check that link too, they express a good idea to emphasize on creating side-road accurate test, which i am all for, but still they are shooting in their own toe, i let you guess why!
"I don't recall which poster was against legalization on a thread a couple of weeks ago because there was no field test for marijuana impairment."
You mean bloodshot eyes and a bag of Cheetos wouldn't be evidence? :)
Once you get your plane in their air, all you have to is navigate. Landing requires a little bit mroe dexterity.
My thoughts are I would not ride in a car driven by a weed smoker. That said, potheads shoud not be allowed to drive/fly/operate/etc any time anywhere.
well, dude, when I drove while smokin', I was flying....if you know what I mean, man.
I swear those wheels never touched the road. Kind of like the magic bus.
I used to work for a farmer that would smoke up and then go cut hay. He was a great boss.
I could always tell when my cousins got high while baling hay...the first bales were beautiful and round, and towards the end of the day the bales were lopsided and - well - stoned looking.
Anecdotally, I dont think weed impairs motor abilities as alcohol does. Potheads may do dumb things like drive past the exit they wanted, but they dont drive off the road.
That said, driving while impaired is not a good thing, but weed may heighten awareness, while alcohol dulls it.
Two quick points:
The vast majority of folks who would drink and then drive monitor their intake very closely in drinks/hour so as to not become drunk. Everyone who smokes marijuana does so with the intent of getting high. This article is biased toward the drinking=impaired driving to bolster potheads belief that they can do no wrong.
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.
There was a fatal traffic accident in Alaska a few months ago. Some dude was buzzed on weed and let his truck cross the certerline where it smacked an SUV. They don't all drive slow and weaving.
I tried to drive while stoned but I kept forgetting where I was going. Got side tracked by shiny things all the time.
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