Cannabis & Cars A Fatal Mix....

[Guest Urbanhog]

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1801/a10.html

Newshawk: Niall Young

Pubdate: Tue, 24 Sep 2002

Source: West Australian (Australia)

Copyright: 2002 West Australian Newspapers Limited

Contact: letters@wanews.com.au

Website: http://www.thewest.com.au

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495

Author: Mark Mallabone

 

 

CANNABIS, CARS A FATAL MIX

 

DRIVERS who smoked cannabis before getting behind the wheel were six times more likely to die in a crash than other road users, a parliamentary committee has been told.

 

Monash University forensic medicine expert Olaf Drummer said yesterday it was myth that stoned motorists were relatively safe because they drove slowly. Fatal smashes among this group caused by excessive speed were not uncommon.

 

"It is certainly not a safe drug in relation to road trauma," Professor Drummer told the House of Representatives standing committee on family and community affairs.

 

He unveiled an analysis which showed that drivers with relatively high levels of cannabis in their bloodstream ( more than 5ng/mL of tetrahydrocannabinol ) were 6.6 times more likely than others to die on the roads.

 

Only very drunk drivers were more vulnerable. Those with a blood-alcohol content higher than 0.20 were 20 times more likely to die.

 

In a coronial study of almost 3400 driver deaths during 1990-99, including 757 in WA, Professor Drummer found almost 30 per cent of victims recorded a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit.

 

A further 26 per cent tested positive for mind-altering ( psychotropic ) drugs, including 14 per cent who had recently used cannabis.

 

Other commonly detected drugs were opiates ( 4.4 per cent ), stimulants ( 3.8 per cent ) and benzodiazepines ( 3.6 per cent ).

 

Professor Drummer told the committee that drivers who used stimulants such as amphetamines were 2.3 times more likely than others to die.

 

the death rate was much higher ( 8.8 times ) among stimulant-using truck drivers.

 

interestingly, heroin use did not appear to be strongly linked to unsafe driving. Heroin users were 1.4 times more likely to die but those who had taken multiple mood-altering drugs were 5.4 times more likely to die.

 

The combination of alcohol and mood-altering drugs was particularly dangerous.

 

Professor Drummer's research appears to support moves by WA authorities, revealed last week, to investigate the possibility of testing drivers for drugs other than alcohol.

 

The WA Police Service has made preliminary inquiries about getting portable roadside saliva testing kits.

 

Victorian police are preparing to start a similar program.

 

And The West Australian understands that the Government's drink and drug driving task force has made a submission that legislation be drafted to help catch the rising number of people driving while affected by drugs.

[Tom]

Hey BB, nice pic, did that come from a site somewhere? Could be some good avatars there.

 

[Tom]

I really don't think this board is about having flame wars.

 

I can see points on both sides and we do like to keep things friendly. I also take pride in the fact that an Aussie board is showing up the international boards by not needing a forum for flamers.

[Dr Doug]

If you dont pay the fine ultimetly you go to jail for not driving if cross you name off the list it is also an offence I was told this by a official who came around to enrol me strangely three weeks after I complained about the fine in letter form to my member of parliment.The harshness of responce is due to the seriousness of the isssue.My family comes from the outback Roma in particular I work very hard for my money I dont pay it blindly to politicians for no reason.The laws around around these websites fall into very grey areas.I wouldnt be surprised if Ozstoner is committing an illegal act by having it.Are you going to stand by if he get done for it and say he must face the consequences?The USA was bringing new laws concerning these and porn websites but were interupted by september 11.People like me log on to these websites to stand up for our rights do you?Its thats inflamatory sorry.

[pipeman]

If you dont pay the fine ultimetly you go to jail for not driving if cross you name off the list it is also an offence I was told this by a official who came around to enrol me strangely three weeks after I complained about the fine in letter form to my member of parliment.The harshness of responce is due to the seriousness of the isssue.My family comes from the outback Roma in particular I work very hard for my money I dont pay it blindly to politicians for no reason.The laws around around these websites fall into very grey areas.I wouldnt be surprised if Ozstoner is committing an illegal act by having it.Are you going to stand by if he get done for it and say he must face the consequences?The USA was bringing new laws concerning these and porn websites but were interupted by september 11.People like me log on to these websites to stand up for our rights do you?Its thats inflamatory sorry.

by cross your name off the list I meant turn up so they register you as being present.

 

as far as this site is concerned I don't think there's anything gained by debating the legality of it. I'm no lawyer and have my lay opinion mainly based on informal bits of information here and there. But I hope to get my first grow underway soon thanks in large part to the community on this site. I am not short of a dollar and believe it or not if ozstoner got in serious trouble I for one would put my hand up to help him out.

 

At least we can agree we both want to help the cause of personal freedom and i suppose to cut down the hypocricy of our governments, particularly went it comes to mj. With this in mind maybe I'll even register to vote before the next election

[Brainstorm]

pipeman has it absolutely right.

 

Electoral officials will tell you that you can be fined for not voting, the truth is that once you've attended the polling booth, had your name marked off on the electoral roll, then as far as the officials are concerned you have voted and you can walk out of there without actually voting - so the upshot of this is that you will get fined for not attending a polling booth on election day, not for not voting!

 

BTW - you can also be fined for not enrolling on an electoral roll

[Dr Doug]

My point is that none of this should be a fine on your license to start with.You can lose you license for any money owed to the government.If I commit offenses on the road ok I cop the license suspension It is impossible for me to run my business without my licencse. I pay a lot of money in taxes direct and indirect to a government I either elect(I have voted in the past but due to moving miss enrolling and elections) or pay through taxes who then grants me a "privelege".Instead of a fine how about the government sends a reminder letter?problem solved no fines involved.Sorry if I got personal but question the government it gives you your freedom. It seems to me the government solution to everything is fine someone.The cannabis and driving question has come about because some drivers on herion nodded off behind the wheel and hit people and cars causing some deaths.It turned out drunk-driving was a crime but drug driving wasnt.So for obvious reasons people started being tested for other substances.If you are not fully in control of a vehicle dont drive the thing.but how out of control does cannabis get people?

[Brainstorm]

it's not about being "out of control" rather being in total control of your abilities as good or bad as they are.

 

as for the fine... I have heard of points being added to your licence for non-driving offences, mind the ones I've heard about are for things like not paying a parking fine - which is sort of related.

 

I would suggest that if it is impossible to run your business without a licence then you pay the non-voting fine. It is a privilege to have a driving licence otherwise they would just give them away.

 

What sort of reminder letter would you like? a reminder that there is an election and that you have to vote? Or a reminder notice that you didn't vote and that you now have to pay a fine? Sounds like you just recieved that notice - they usually give you about a month to pay and if you can't afford it in that time then you can apply for an extension - BTW you also get the chance to explain why you didn't vote!!!

 

We all pay a lot of money in taxes of some sort! Yes the government does work for you as a citizen - but you also have to abide by the laws of the land or suffer the consequences!

[Guest Urbanhog]

mmm... I better get off my arse and pay that long overdue fine for driving on "Bus Lane", yeah I drove on the "Bus Lane" trying to by-pass that damned traffic jam... gee I don 't what to know what will happen to me if I didn't pay that fine

 

mmm... I just started this thread share the news I picked up from the ninemsn.com.au news and sure didn't expect this to end up this far... whoa....

 

Hey Dr.Doug, you were looking for some activities for the next cannabis cup for the restless stoners... why don't you set up a "debating room/session"? I am not mocking anyone here, it's just I find you a very interesting character with plenty of views....

I am sure the debating room will be safe to let everyone let off their steam and opinions without harming anyone due most people will be too stoned to fight physicially ::

 

toke on guys, Urbanhog

[Brainstorm]

I'd be in that Urbanhog - I love having a good discussion on stuff

[BlackBeauty]

Hey BB, nice pic, did that come from a site somewhere? Could be some good avatars there.

http://www.oneposter.com/ResultsPage.asp?c...chbox=Marijuana

 

I stumbled on it last night and when I saw that grafk, I thought it would be perfect for you guys!

 

I was actually looking for a weed-related birthday ecard for a friend in the UK that's in my warez team and hooked me up with some weed when I was in London (Do you know how hard it is to find weed type ecards on the 'net!? But u know me - the search n find queen )

 

Hope you get some good stuff of the site - I'm still umming and aaahing about my avatar too....