Stoned drivers are a lot safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

[Garion_55]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by William769 (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Washington Post

A new study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that drivers who use marijuana are at a significantly lower risk for a crash than drivers who use alcohol. And after adjusting for age, gender, race and alcohol use, drivers who tested positive for marijuana were no more likely to crash than who had not used any drugs or alcohol prior to driving.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484


The chart above tells the story. For marijuana, and for a number of other legal and illegal drugs including antidepressants, painkillers, stimulants and the like, there is no statistically significant change in the risk of a crash associated with using that drug prior to driving. But overall alcohol use, measured at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold of 0.05 or above, increases your odds of a wreck nearly seven-fold.

The study's findings underscore an important point: that the measurable presence of THC (marijuana's primary active ingredient) in a person's system doesn't correlate with impairment in the same way that blood alcohol concentration does. The NHTSA doesn't mince words: "At the current time, specific drug concentration levels cannot be reliably equated with a specific degree of driver impairment."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/09/stoned-drivers-are-a-lot-safer-than-drunk-ones-new-federal-data-show/

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didnt see this posted yesterday. hope im not reposting.

[Scuba]

1. If we can switch drunk drivers to stoned drivers, we're saving lives. Colorado's proving it.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/07/year-after-colorado-legalizes-advocates-say-its-all-good-pot-land

According to a study (pdf) released Tuesday by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), since legal marijuana sales began on January 1, 2014, the state has "benefited from a decrease in crime rates, a decrease in traffic fatalities, an increase in tax revenue and economic output from retail marijuana sales, and an increase in jobs.

[Dustlawyer]

3. +1!!! K&R!

[progressoid]

2. Hadn't seen this before.

Thanks!

[AngryAmish]

4. I hope this is true

Although my experience is a quarter century old there is no way I could drive stoned. 1 oe 2 beers, sure. More than 2? Never.

[KT2000]

5. I know this to be true

at least for someone who was a regular user. Driving across a mountain pass we hit a wind shear and the van spun around. My friend stayed in the moment and regained control of the car. His concentration was incredible. One side was a cliff and he kept us from going over.

[Xithras]

6. Saf"er", but still not as safe as a sober person.

I'm all for decriminalizing marijuana, but driving stone needs to remain just as prosecutable as driving drunk. Driving under the influence of any drug that impairs your cognition or motor skills is a problem.

[freebrew]

16. Stoned drivers are shown to be safer...

an article from the BMJ a few years ago tested and proved it.

It also proved that tired drivers were a bigger problem than drunk drivers.

No one ever tried to make it illegal to drive under the influence of tobacco, why the discrimination against pot?

[BeyondGeography]

18. I don't care what that article says

Driving high is not my idea of fun.

[freebrew]

20. Then don't do it.

[BeyondGeography]

27. Most people don't

They come down first. What's the point of getting high and driving anyway?

[central scrutinizer]

7. unless the munchies hit

driving while trying to pick up that Cheeto you dropped on the floor is worse than texting. Of course you are probably only doing 15 mph in a 35 zone.

[pangaia]

29. Yupsirootie

[barbtries]

8. when i look at the story of my own family,

it is so clear. alcohol has played havoc with us way worse than any other substance. until finally my daughter was killed by a drunk. rating marijuana as dangerous as alcohol is wrongheaded.

[Garion_55]

9. sorry for your loss

i too have seen the evils of alcoholism first hand and its not prettty. id much rather people who drink, smoke instead

[barbtries]

11. thank you Garion 55

[cui bono]

10. That's because stoned drivers forget where they were going to go

before getting the car into gear. So they never actually drive anywhere.

[blackspade]

12. It will be interesting what the drug warriors come up with in response....

To this study.

Likely denial.

[Dreamer Tatum]

14. How about, "why does anyone need to be impaired behind the wheel?"

I get roasted at the spit here for ridiculing the resident public health "experts" who have exactly one arrow in their quiver: at least it isn't as bad as alcohol!

To which I say, is that really how you want to make public health decisions? Is someone really willing to say with a straight face that driving while baked is OK because it isn't as bad as driving while drunk? Please.

[Ed Suspicious]

19. I agree, it isweak if that's the entire basis of a pro-legalization argument, but as an

". . . and also, people who use cannabis tend to drink less. Data shows road safety improved when people drink less. In fact, cannabis using drivers are statistically as unlikely to be involved in a car crash as stone sober drivers." - that's makes for a more complete picture and is persuasive.

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. More like..it isn't a fraction as bad as alcohol

Or hard drugs, or prescription drugs, or stimulants, or texting, or phoning, or eating, or tired, stressed out, or dealing with children ......

Not that these could be determined easily, but you would eliminate a lot of people if you only allow super straight, fully rested, non distracted drivers on the road.

I also have been using pot now for 40 years, and not one accident while on marijuana. One side effect is that you are extra paranoid and cautious. Another of pots characteristics is a kind of tunnelvision. Your mind can concentrate and focus on tasks or input. Most times its things like music or art etc.. for me, but when driving, its all about the driving. My experience anyways.

[Dreamer Tatum]

22. It's still impairment. And it doesn't impair everyone equally. nt

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. Sure I agree

But my point was that most, or many people are "impaired" with one or more of those things I listed at any one time.

Its better not to drive with any distraction or worry or stimulant but what I fear is an overreaction by the authorities and an opportunity seen to cash in for cash-strapped governments by targeting anyone mildly buzzed and handing out large fines for something that is relatively harmless.

Yes there will be always be younger drivers, who are also new to the effects of marijuana who will over stimulate themselves and especially combined with alcohol or a car full of friends could be a hazard, but I'm talking about the vast majority of drivers that have been using it safely for years. And yes IMO a small amount of pot, if you are a seasoned driver, is not dangerous.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. I'm more concerned about people driving while stupid.

[tridim]

15. But what about the children?

Realistically, they'll just ignore it. They always ignore positive evidence.

Same old crap every time.

[olddad56]

13. I smoked pot every day, all day for 20 years, quit in 1987...

Never had a wreck or got a traffic ticket during that time. Never felt impaired unless I combined it with alcohol. Not necessarily proud of this, just stating my truth.

Anyone who texts, or reads texts while driving is more impaired, while they are in the act, than people who are driving on pot, by far.

[Garion_55]

17. been smoking longer then ive been driving

30 years so far. never been the cause of an accident, only been rear ended by others at fault and just minor traffic violations. maybe 2 speeding tickets my whole life.

i can smoke all day and drive fine. but after 4-5 beers maybe a shot, no way. dont like to do it.

[LiberalLovinLug]

25. Yep, me too

I'd almost just as soon keep it technically illegal where I live. Its basically allowed here in that if you are caught with pot they would simply confiscate it. Now that its becoming legal in places, the frightened authoritarian minded are pushing for the development of road side testers for pot like they have for alcohol. And I know that the percent that determining impairment would probably be set so low you would be busted when only mildly buzzed. Especially since traces of THC stays in your blood system for days after.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. Try driving on acid....

Remember Atari's "Night Driver"?





You will.

Just hope it doesn't look like "Asteroids".

[nichomachus]

26. It's because they're all going so slow

A friend of mine was driving home one day and was stoned. He was on the interstate and a cop pulled him over. The cop said "Do you know how fast you were going." My friend said "I'm sorry officer. I might have been going a little over the speed limit." The cop said, "Sir, you were going seven miles an hour."

[still_one]

28. Stupid study. No one should be driving under any distances that affect your reflexes

[pangaia]

30. The difference between a drunk driver and a stoned driver...

Where did I hear this?

A drunk driver runs red lights.
A stoned driver stops at green lights.

I am LIVING proof of the second part of that.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

31. not surprised; we've already surmised.

[DebJ]

33. Hm. I've had just one experience with a stoned driver.

She kept driving down the wrong side of the road. I asked her what the hell was wrong with her, and THEN she told me she was stoned.

Doesn't sound like a way to drive safely to me.

No, thanks.

[William769]

34. Locking.

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