Stoned drivers are safe drivers

[Caduceus Mercurius]

Stoned drivers are safe drivers

Two decades of research show that marijuana use may actually reduce driver accidents.

The effects of marijuana use on driving performance have been extensively researched over the last 20 years. All major studies show that marijuana consumption has little or no effect on driving ability, and may actually reduce accidents. Here's a summary of the biggest studies into pot use and driving.

A 1983 study by the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that the only significant affect of cannabis use was slower driving - arguably a positive effect of driving high.

A comprehensive 1992 NHTSA study revealed that pot is rarely involved in driving accidents, except when combined with alcohol. The study concluded that "the THC-only drivers had an [accident] responsibility rate below that of the drug free drivers." This study was buried for six years and not released until 1998.

A 1993 NHTSA study dosed Dutch drivers with THC and tested them on real Dutch roads. It concluded that THC caused no impairment except for a slight deficiency in the driver's ability to "maintain a steady lateral position on the road." This means that the THC-dosed drivers had a little trouble staying smack in the center of their lanes, but showed no other problems. The study noted that the effects of even high doses of THC were far less than that of alcohol or many prescription drugs. The study concluded that "THC's adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small."

A massive 1998 study by the University of Adelaide and Transport South Australia examined blood samples from drivers involved in 2,500 accidents. It found that drivers with only cannabis in their systems were slightly less likely to cause accidents than those without. Drivers with both marijuana and alcohol did have a high accident responsibility rate. The report concluded, "there was no indication that marijuana by itself was a cause of fatal accidents."

In Canada, a 1999 University of Toronto meta-analysis of studies into pot and driving showed that drivers who consumed a moderate amount of pot typically refrained from passing cars and drove at a more consistent speed. The analysis also confirmed that marijuana taken alone does not increase a driver's risk of causing an accident.

A major study done by the UK Transport Research Laboratory in 2000 found that drivers under the influence of cannabis were more cautious and less likely to drive dangerously. The study examined the effects of marijuana use on drivers through four weeks of tests on driving simulators. The study was commissioned specifically to show that marijuana was impairing, and the british government was embarrassed with the study's conclusion that "marijuana users drive more safely under the influence of cannabis."

According to the Cannabis and Driving report, a comprehensive literature review published in 2000 by the UK Department of Transportation, "the majority of evidence suggests that cannabis use may result in a lower risk of [accident] culpability."

The Canadian Senate issued a major report into all aspects of marijuana in 2002. Their chapter on Driving under the influence of cannabis concludes that "Cannabis alone, particularly in low doses, has little effect on the skills involved in automobile driving."

The most recent study into drugs and driving was published in the July 2004 Journal of Accident Analysis and Prevention. Researchers at the Dutch Institute for Road Safety Research analyzed blood tests from those in traffic accidents, and found that even people with blood alcohol between 0.5% and 0.8% (below the legal limit) had a five-fold increase in the risk of serious accident. Drivers above the legal alcohol limit were 15 times more likely to have a collision. Drugs like Valium and Rohypnol produced results similar to alcohol, while cocaine and opiates showed only a small but "not statistically significant" increase in accident risk. As for the marijuana-only users? They showed absolutely no increased risk of accidents at all.

LINKS AND REFERENCES

1983 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study: Stein, AC et al., A Simulator Study of the Combined Effects of Alcohol and Marijuana on Driving Behavior-Phase II, Washington DC: Department of Transportation (1983) http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_myth12.shtml

1992 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study: The Incidence and Role of Drugs in Fatally Injured Drivers, by K.W. Terhune, et al. of the Calspan Corp. Accident Research Group in Buffalo, NY (Report # DOT-HS-808-065) http://www.drugsense.org/tfy/nhtsa1.htm

1993 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study: Marijuana and actual Driving Performance, By Hindrik WJ Robbe and James F O'Hanlon. Institute for Human Psychopharmacology, University of Limburg http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_driving4.shtml

1998 University of Adelaide and Transport South Australia study: http://www.ukcia.org/research/driving4.html

1999 University of Toronto Study, Marijuana Not a Factor in Driving Accidents: http://www.newsandevents.utoronto.ca/bin/19990329a.asp

2000 UK Transport Research Laboratory study on Cannabis and Driving: http://www.mapinc.org/newscc/v00/n1161/a02.html

2000 UK Department of Transportation's Cannabis and Driving report: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_504567.hcsp

2002 Report of the Special Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/rep-e/repfinalvol1part4-e.htm

July 2004, Journal of Accident Analysis and Prevention, Psychoactive substance use and the risk of motor vehicle accidents. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15094417
For a less scientific and more amusing study of the combination of drugs and driving, go here: http://www.techno.de/mixmag/interviews/Driving_on_drugs.html

A BETTER WAY TO TEST

Performance testing is better than drug testing Cannabis Culture, January 2005 http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4130.html

Alternatives to Drug Testing: Performance testing Non-testers List http://www.nontesterslist.com/nontesters/ptest.html

Performance testing can add an extra measure of safety HR Magazine, February 1996 http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_n2_v41/ai_18159115

An Alternative to Drug Testing Inc Magazine, April 1995 http://www.inc.com/magazine/19950401/2235.html

MEDIA REPORTS ON "DRUGGED DRIVING" LAWS

UK Launches Drug Driving Tests Daily Telegraph, December 22, 2004 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v04/n1821/a02.html

Drug Office Out To Convince Teens Pot Impairs Driving Lexington Herald-Leader, December 3, 2004 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v04/n1726/a05.html

Growing danger: Drugged driving USA Today, Oct 21, 2004 http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-10-21-cover-drugged-driving_x.htm

Zero-tolerance drugged driving law doing the job The Daily Press, July 8, 2004 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v04/n977/a05.html

Lawmakers Aiming for 'Zero Tolerance' Of Pot-Smoking Drivers The Athens News, May 5, 2004 [url=http://www.m....html]www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v04/n683/a02.html[/url]

Drugged Driving Statutes Pushed Boston Globe, March 21, 2004 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v04/n464/a02.html

New Legislation To Allow Police To Conduct Roadside Tests for Drug Impaired Drivers Ottawa Citizen, February 23, 2004 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v04/n319/a07.html

Too Many One Toke Over Line, Police Say Globe and Mail, February 1, 2003 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v03/n173/a01.html

Drug Czar, Prohibition Establishment Seek 'Zero Tolerance' for 'Drugged Driving' The week online with DRCNet, November 22, 2002 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v02/n2157/a04.html

British Police Plan New Drug Tests For Drivers Reuters, August 3, 2000 http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v00/n1105/a12.html

Marjiuana Report Too Hot Too Handle Australian Broadcasting Corporation, October 1998 http://www.norml.org.nz/Marijuana/Driving.htm#abc981014b

"Steer Clear of Pot" Media Campaign US Office of National Drug Control Policy http://www.mediacampaign.org/steerclear/index.html


Source: http://www.cannabisculture.com/news/driving



Many thanks to Jack Herer, for posting this as a bulletin on his wonderful MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/hempjack

Also check out http://www.jackherer.com

 

[marc]

Woehoe ! That's what I'm saying for years now, but nobody believed me !!

Again, greath news, some positivity about weed.

To bad we won't read this in the newspapers

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

That's what I'm saying for years now, but nobody believed me !!

It's absolutely true. Of course I don't smoke while driving, but very often just before taking off. Even when I'm in a hurry, I keep to the speed limits and don't do risky things. It's the ultimate safety drug if you ask me.

Bill Hicks: "Not only do I think pot should be legalized, I think it should be mandatory..."

 

[Guest]

and i thought i was the only one beliving this! back in the days when i drove stoned, i never had an accident, because: 1 - i didn't cared for other drivers, i was only focused in the music ; 2- i knew i was stoned, so i doubled my attention at the car and on the road. i hope this information will be used by the media (i doubt it, but i hope so).
great news!

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

1 - i didn't cared for other drivers, i was only focused in the music

Well, I certainly do care for the other drivers, but I do enjoy good music or interesting podcasts while driving. When you're enjoying the moment, there's again less stress to get to your destination in a hurry, or be distracted by the behavior of other drivers.

 

[Forkbender]

driving high is a waste of weed.

 

[marc]

driving high is a waste of weed.

Sometimes you have to to get home !

And, you can skin up again when you arrive there

 

[????????]

i knew i was stoned, so i doubled my attention at the car and on the road

This is it. This is the difference. I once had to park high and it took me forever but damn I was careful, I knew I was high so I also put more attention. Every stoner knows that being drunk has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with being high (I've met people who basically thing it's the same) and being drunk = reckless, inhibited behaviour; being high = I'm high, gotta-take-it-slow-behaviour. The sweetest study was the british one were they actually intended to prove driving high was bad and the results totally blew in their faces.

 

[silv]

i knew i was stoned, so i doubled my attention at the car and on the road

This is it. This is the difference. I once had to park high and it took me forever but damn I was careful, I knew I was high so I also put more attention. Every stoner knows that being drunk has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with being high (I've met people who basically thing it's the same) and being drunk = reckless, inhibited behaviour; being high = I'm high, gotta-take-it-slow-behaviour. The sweetest study was the british one were they actually intended to prove driving high was bad and the results totally blew in their faces.

hm that's funny, still i won't drive under influence. For me it just doesn't feel safe, whatever they prove.

 

[Guest]

today i don't drive under the influence anymore because the portuguese police started doing drug tests on the road. i stopped all my MJ consuption because of this. although i love the weed, i praise my driver's license and my criminal record a little more

 

[twicon]

I believe this research is based on the ''normal'' effects of thc,with the normal human reaction.
When i was smoking , i was driving like a maniac cause i really was one...

Driving on candyflip a 200cc scooter is one of the most fun (and stupid) experiences ive had

The rest of my old friends smoke a joint with their coffee before driving to work

 

[????????]

hm that's funny, still i won't drive under influence. For me it just doesn't feel safe, whatever they prove.

Well yes, they didn't prove everyone should drive stoned, the thing is compared to alcohol, driving high is pretty harmless.

 

[GOD]

CaduceusMercurius , Thanks for the information . I think that your post is briliant , well written and one of the best i have seen on this forum and any other forum i have visited . I`m going to copy it and maybe use it to reply to artikles in the press here ........ if i can translate it into Gernman .

 

[Psychoid]

driving while stoned is not that harmless, I do drive better when sober than when I'm stoned. When stoned I have difficulties maintaining a constant speed and react slower.

But well, I quit smoking weed from tomorrow so... it doesn't really concerns me anymore

 

[MindAstronaut]

Exactly, Stoned people just got somehow more patience then sober or drunk people.

"Take it easy theres no need to take risks" that is the kind of mentallty that we need in the rushing traffic.

:weedman:

 

[Entheonaut]

Reading this confirms every thought I have about stoned-driving.

I believe this research is based on the ''normal'' effects of thc,with the normal human reaction.
When i was smoking , i was driving like a maniac cause i really was one...

Driving on candyflip a 200cc scooter is one of the most fun (and stupid) experiences ive had

The rest of my old friends smoke a joint with their coffee before driving to work

A friend of mine stepped in his car a while ago while he was still tripping on quite a dose of mescaline (I'm not gonna mention his name haha *wink* :wink