Stoned drivers 2x as likely to have fatal crash.

[esoter1c]

Cannabis doubles fatal crash risk

Drugs can slow reaction times

Driving after taking even small amounts of cannabis almost doubles risk of a fatal road accident, research suggests. The French National Institute for Transport and Safety Research found evidence of cannabis use among 7% of drivers involved in fatal crashes.

However, the figure was dwarfed by the 21.4% who tested positive for alcohol consumption.

The British Medical Journal study was based on 10,748 drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2001 and 2003.

Research like this proves just how dangerous it is to take drugs, and then get behind the wheel of a car


Roger Vincent



All of the drivers had compulsory tests for drugs and alcohol.

The researchers found the risk of being responsible for a fatal crash increased as the blood concentration of cannabis increased.

While even small amounts of cannabis could double the chance of a driver suffering an accident, larger doses could more than triple the risk.

The findings also showed 2.9% of drivers tested positive for both cannabis and alcohol use.

Men bigger offenders

Men were more often involved in crashes than women, and were also more often positive for both cannabis and alcohol.

The same was true of young drivers, and users of mopeds and motorcycles.

The study showed that the prevalence of cannabis in the driving population at 2.9% was similar to that for alcohol at 2.7%.

The researchers estimated that at least 2.5% of fatal crashes were directly attributable to cannabis use.

However, alcohol was estimated to be responsible for 28.6%.

Writing in the BMJ, the researchers concluded: "Driving under the influence of cannabis increases the risk of involvement in a crash."

Roger Vincent, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, told the BBC News website public education campaigns were needed.

He said: "Research like this proves just how dangerous it is to take drugs, and then get behind the wheel of a car.

"It is totally irresponsible, as taking drugs such as cannabis does affect your reactions."

Dr John Heyworth, past president of the British Association of Accident and Emergency Medicine, said increasing numbers of people who had taken various types of drugs were being treated following road traffic accidents, and other incidents.

He said few people had taken cannabis alone - often it was combined with alcohol or other types of drugs, such as cocaine or speed.

"Sometimes it is difficult to know whether a person's behaviour is linked to their injuries, or to the drugs they have taken," he said.







But that's only if Queens of the Stone Age are cranked.

[decypher]

I've never had a problem driving stoned. Some people can't handle being ripped without being really out of it though.

[Hot Karl]

were the drivers chronic users? once a month smokers? once a year smokers?

and what's a "small" amount?

what's a "large" amount of marijuana?

"often times is combined with other drugs" - so how the fuck would they know that cannabis is the cause of the crash?

[FeelGood]

honestly i drive better when im stoned then when im sober.
maybe my reaction times are a lot slower, but when im sober i tend to speed.
when im ripped im more cautious and careful on the road.

edit: dont get the wrong impression of me. im not proud of driving around stoned and i dont reccomend it in any way shape or form, im just stating my reactions to when i have smoked up and then went driving.

[Ryan Ross]

not to jump on the "its ok to drive stoned" bandwagon here, but its near impossible to tell from blood samples when a person last smoked pot, and if they are stoned at the moment. Thats not to say they cant use other tests... Id just like to know more about the "found evidence of cannabis use" statement.

[Ryan Ross]

Originally Posted by eighty5

honestly i drive better when im stoned then when im sober.
maybe my reaction times are a lot slower, but when im sober i tend to speed.
when im ripped im more cautious and careful on the road.

Thats one of the main differences that have been found between driving drunk and driving stoned. When youre drunk you are more likely to feel invinsible and not realize that yes, you are drunk and maybe shouldnt drive like a retard. Whereas with stoned people they generally realize it, and slow down and act like a good paranoid stoner.

I've seen some studies that show that driving ability does not actually decrease in terms of reaction times. However my prof that showed us that study made sure to point out that there is the very real danger of increase distractibility, so dont go after that chip in the floor dumbass!

[ja_raul]

hmmmm, for the sake of argument, im gona speak from both points of view

against weed

ive heard alot of ppl say "i feel more aware of the road", "i never speed whereas when im sober i probably would" and all these other claims that being under the influence of thc is a good thing. i think the logic behind that is the same for when drunk ppl try to act sober, they tend to overcompensate on their behaviour (to look sober), thus fooling themselves that they appear normal and not intoxicated, i say drunk drivers still pose a threat. it may not just be the "high" that could pose a threat on yourself and other drivers, but it could also be the comedown from weed, (not the munchies), lethargic drivers pose just as much of a threat as drunk drivers (there was a story about this a couple of years ago i think, sleepy drivers are worse than drunk drivers); of course, all of this depends on your level of "high", it'd be stupid if johnny housecoat did 10 bonghits, then had to drive 30 mins to get home imo

for weed


perhaps its fear of being caught, or maybe the effects of marijuana just makes one focus more, but i too have noticed from first hand experience that driving whilst stoned is equivalent to driving on your roadtest, one does their best to drive flawlessly, always shoulder checking, never speeding. touching on a point from my "against weed" statement, i think most drivers that might drive while stoned probably arent BAKED out of their minds, therefore if it were to reduce reaction time, would it be that much of a difference?

in conclusion.. im a driver, and im also a weed smoker, do i ever mix the 2? yea, occasionally, when i first started smokin weed, i refused to drive under the influence because i honestly felt too paranoid, that feeling went away and now i mind my own business and stick to the speed limit (whilst stoned) i dont reccommend driving while stoned, but i can guarantee that its MUCH MUCH more safe than driving while drunk (not buzzed, not tipsy) but fully tanked.

[decypher]

Sometimes when i'm stoned and driving i'll just wait by a side road stop sign giving up like 7 chances to turn onto the main road just because. I'm way more cautious.

[esoter1c]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Details on that sig r a must ! lol ^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Technix]

They had to conduct a study to find this out...what a waste.

[ebbomega]

"let's say you get into a car accident while smoking weed... you're only going 10 miles an hour!"
- bill hicks

the problem to correlational research is it can make no claims as per causality.

[decypher]

Originally Posted by 3507321C

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Details on that sig r a must ! lol ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well after Q-bert, i was in my kitchen pouring a drink. A confused Carlos looks at me, my headphones half on his head, and goes:
"Man your mixer isn't working..." Now refer to sig.

[-evil-duerr-]

It depends on the driver.
marijuana works for some people. For others it does not.
Can't blame pot for people's shitty driving.
If they can't handle a car on pot, they probably can hardly drive when theyre sober.

[Toxxin Ephekt]

Originally Posted by decypher

Well after Q-bert, i was in my kitchen pouring a drink. A confused Carlos looks at me, my headphones half on his head, and goes:
"Man your mixer isn't working..." Now refer to sig.

bbbbbbwwwwwaaaaaaaaaahaaaahahhahahahahah hahahahahhahahhahahahh. Noobs. Or damn battle style...but we wont get into that topic....

[Toxxin Ephekt]

BTW...that article is complete BS.

[decypher]

Originally Posted by Toxxin Ephekt

bbbbbbwwwwwaaaaaaaaaahaaaahahhahahahahah hahahahahhahahhahahahh. Noobs. Or damn battle style...but we wont get into that topic....

Yeh just like the time you turned my mixer off before the mackies? I swear they sound a bit off ever since then. If i take them in and there damaged, your payin the bill ;)

[Rytalin]

driving stoned = know your brain, know your car and you'll probably be fine... unless god really has it in for you or something.

Driving drunk AND stoned = baaaaaaaaaaaaaad news. be careful and know your an idiot for doing it (yes I'm guilty as well)