Marijuana Not a Factor in Driving Accidents -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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...