Marijuana.com

Buzzby

Cannabis Increases Car-Crash Risk
Heavy cannabis users are 10 times more likely to be injured, or to injure others, in car accidents, researchers have found.
BBC News | 04/30/2005

The scientists from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, say their study is the first proof that there is a link between using cannabis and accidents.

Previously, there was only laboratory research and post mortem evidence to suggest a connection.

UK experts said the Addiction study showed more education was needed.

Doctors had believed there was a link between cannabis use and accidents for some time, but had been unable to prove a connection.

'Target heavy users'

The New Zealand team surveyed 571 drivers of cars involved in crashes in which at least one occupant was hospitalised or killed and a control group of 588 drivers randomly selected from cars driving in Auckland.

They were asked if they had taken cannabis in the three hours prior to the crash or survey and were also asked about their use of cannabis over the previous 12 months.

It was found that habitual cannabis users were 9.5 times more likely to be involved in crashes, with 5.6% of people who crashed having taken the drug compared to 0.5% of the control group.

Their risk of an accident was increased whether or not they had used cannabis immediately before the accident.

The researchers, led by Dr Stephanie Blows, said: "The prevalence of self-reported recent cannabis use in the Auckland driving population was less than 1%, and those who did use marijuana prior to driving were highly likely to be habitual users.

"This suggests that interventions targeting high risk marijuana use groups may be more cost-effective than random roadside testing."

Professor Robert West, editor of Addiction, said: "People have been saying for some time that drugs increase your risk of an accident, but there was no good evidence to show that.

"It shows public information campaigns would be a good idea."

Martin Barnes, chief executive of Drugscope, said: "Cannabis can impact on your perception and your responses."

He added: "Obviously if you have been taking drugs you should really not be driving."

__________________

 

king cola

They were asked if they had taken cannabis in the three hours prior to the crash or survey and were also asked about their use of cannabis over the previous 12 months.

It was found that habitual cannabis users were 9.5 times more likely to be involved in crashes, with 5.6% of people who crashed having taken the drug compared to 0.5% of the control group.

Their risk of an accident was increased whether or not they had used cannabis immediately before the accident.

Ok so someone smoked pot 3 hrs prior to an accident, how much did they smoke? It's no different than someone drinking vodka 3 hours before driving and still being intoxicated.

What about Amsterdam, why don't we get reports from there where marijuana is legalized? I still refuse to believe the information they say about marijuana if it's in a country where it's illegal.

It also doesn't say whos fault the accident was! They say these people got into accidents, maybe coincidently the people who had bad luck one day driving just happend to be a user of marijuana. The accident could have been someone elses fault. They also said the person crashed 3 hours of smoking, so they still drove after smoking. Did all these people crash the day of smoking? It's still not a good enough reason to ban it.

I mean if someones in a bar for a few hours drinking, i don't think it's right for them to get behind the wheel either, but i don't go and say to ban alcohol!

Martin Barnes, chief executive of Drugscope, said: "Cannabis can impact on your perception and your responses."

Your kidding? So can legal medications like Nyquil but i don't drive after taking that when i'm sick. Alcohol can do the samething they are claiming pot can do, but they ban one and keep another illegal!

If you ask me, there would be less accidents anyway if every country made people who were going to get their license take a defensive driving class instead of doing what our DMV's do and take people around the block and say "heres your license!"

It also doesn't say what age group for marijuana users had the accidents. If they are mostly teenagers, it's already known that a lot of them like to drive reckless. It's just funny because for a country that says they did a study, they left out the age group, all they said for it was habitual users, that still doesn't explain a lot.

Mamabudz

Auckland -- one of the major driving capitals of the free world...

But I do agree that if you have taken or done ANYTHING that effects your ability to drive, stay the bloody hell off the road. That list includes but is not limited to: too much caffeine; otc cold remedies; and a turkey sandwhich & glass of milk when you haven't slept in 36 hours among other things.

Toke responsibly.

secretagentman

First off let me say from first hand experience biking in rush hour traffic stoned out of my gourd that this is tottal BS. I actually was more careful and focused on my riding than when sober.
What about thier use of alcohol.
Anyway a study done by the Uk department of transportation found that stoned drivers weren't a major risks and were considerably safer than drunk drivers. But Mamabudz I agree with you. But I still bike stoned, never had an accident and I only pose a risk to myself if at all. I am actually a very saftey minded individual and I woudln't bike high unless I thought I could do it safely.

__________________
Dave

Car-free! My bod's my hotrod

The ultimate measure of a man
is not where he stands
in moments of comfort and convenience,
but where he stands
at times of challenge and controversy.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

frolic

Those aukland people will post any percentage and present it as meaning something. Five point seven percent of 571 people 3.1976 as compared to 5% of 588 people is 2.94. That is an astounding difference. The possibility of error is +- what percent. There is more education needed. The education should be for those who took these percentages pumpep them up and fed them to a Bullshet British Corporation.

 

iGame3D

Did they ask these people if they were talking on their cell phones?
How about how much sleep they had?
How about if there were any other distractions in or around the vehicle.

And yeah, I want to know whose fault the accident was.

My wife refuses to smoke herb and she's an awful driver, I'm more paranoid of being in the car with her than I am of growing a yard full of plants next door to a cop.

She's had more accidents and crashes than anyone I know.

Let me guess, next study will say marijuana users can get other people high by looking at them funny.