78% of cannabis users drive soon after smoking

[Tom]

Drivers are happy to jump behind the wheel just an hour after smoking drugs, but most say they would be less likely to if they ran the risk of being randomly tested on the roadside.

 

A study of cannabis users in Sydney and Newcastle found that 78 per cent have driven not long after smoking drugs and 27 per cent admitted to driving under the influence of cannabis at least once a week.

 

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre surveyed 320 people to find out what measures would stop them from driving under the influence.

 

Most people admitted that driving under the influence affected their skills, but the study could not find a link between smokers and accident risk, a concern for the researchers.

 

Don Weatherburn, director of the crime bureau, said the results should be treated with caution.

 

"There is enough evidence around to justify determined efforts to reduce the rate at which people drive under the influence of cannabis, whether alone or in conjunction with alcohol or drugs," Dr Weatherburn said.

 

Author:Alexandra Smith, Transport Writer

Date:October 25, 2005

Source:The Sydney Morning Herald.

Copyright:© 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald.

 

[Tom]

'RBT' needed to deter stoned drivers

 

More than 75 per cent of cannabis users have driven at least once while stoned, and more than a quarter do so frequently, a new survey has found.

 

But more than a quarter of the 320 users interviewed in Sydney and Newcastle said they believed cannabis impaired their driving ability.

 

The study, conducted by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics (BOCSAR) and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, found that random roadside drug testing would be a strong deterrent to users getting behind the wheel.

 

About 78 per cent of the users surveyed said they had driven at least once in the past 12 months within one hour of using the drug.

 

Twenty-seven per cent reported driving under the influence of cannabis at least once a week.

 

BOCSAR director Dr Don Weatherburn said the survey was part of an investigation into ways in which cannabis users might be persuaded not to drive when under the influence.

 

"The threat of tougher penalties exerted no effect on the stated willingness of cannabis users to drive under the threat of cannabis," he said.

 

"The threat of random roadside testing, however, exerted a strong deterrent effect."

 

The survey found that merely providing users with information about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis had little effect.

 

Dr Weatherburn said the study had found no direct link between cannabis use and accident risk, but other studies with larger samples had established a connection.

 

"Small increases in the risk of a road accident can have catastrophic outcomes for individual families," he said.

 

"There is enough evidence around to justify determined efforts to reduce the rate at which people drive under the influence of cannabis, whether alone or in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs.

 

"It is clear from the current study that measures which increase the risk of detection for drug driving are likely to be far more effective than simply increasing the penalties for drug driving."

 

 

Author:AAP

Date:October 25, 2005

Source:AAP

Copyright:© 2005 AAP

 

[dsyfer]

I do believe if there ever was a proper study conducted (not like first time stoners put behind the wheel) they would find that there was a lot of more dangerous situations than stoned driving, eg: lack of sleep, pre-occupied thought, over confidence etc.

[mull]

I know a few ppl that drive worse when they're straight

If you're tolerant to cannabis, it's the same risk as driving a car whilst under the influence of anti D's, IMO.

 

Besides it's too hard to pack and steer kidding. Better to drive straight... to the billy.

[Chev]

I think an everday smoker is more careful if anything behind the wheel. Someone who is a once/twice a month smoker I would recommend to think twice, as the effects of MJ are going to be much more powerful than for someone who smokes everyday...... I guess it all comes down to the individual in the end, and how much they smoke, their tolerance etc.

[F420]

yes and no,

Im guilty as I usually drive after a smoke, but it can make ya less attentive than if you hadnt smoked.

I know for me at least that true, especially if you getting in to a good song or something. My attention span pisses off elsewhere.

Plus I get parnoid that everyone behind me is a cop

[Chev]

:: I thought you'd be over that paranoia Ferengi, then I thought about it....... I still do that occasionally too, usually when it is a cop ::

[Mushaman]

Beacause I smoke all day every day ... from brekkie to T .... I ALWAYS drive stoned .. (hell, why not come clean with you all .. I often roll a 'roadie' and smoke it driving along) as long as you're not holding anything but the one spliff in the car ... there's no big worry about being stopped and searched ... tested is another thing ..

 

reckon Chevs right ... the more used to it you are the better ... once a week smokers .. new to license .. scary thought .. my position is that it makes me drive 'better' ..

 

that is .. I take a lot more care than when I am 'straight' and like Dsyfer said, specially if I'm preoccupied .. stressing .. then my attention is much more distracted .. but I also have like 30 years of driving .. most of them stoned .. under my belt .. (frantically looks for wood) and all of them accident free (well, couple of rear enders 20 yrs ago)

 

so the question of being tested on the roadside has been a lot on my mind in the last year .. since I heard that they were doing a pilot thing in Vic and already testing people for E's/Speed and Weed ... had a bittofa debate with friends who also smoke a few times .... if you are a person who smokes daily .... therefore who has a very high bodily THC load but who has NOT smoked, say on the morning he was roadside tested .. not driving drugged therefore but with a THC readin that'll have Mr Plod jumping with excitement and whipping out handcuffs .. where does this poor 'innocent' stand?

 

be an interesting court case i reckon

[Hanky]

I'm guilty, I smoke pipes and spliffs while I'm driving. Especialy in peek hour traffic.

[Gush]

me too makes the drive home from work a bit quicker.