Smoking cannabis 'almost doubles risk of car crashes'
SMOKING cannabis within three hours of getting behind the wheel could almost double the risk of a serious crash, new research suggests.
A review of nine studies found that drivers were more likely to be involved in a collision with another car after smoking the class B drug.
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Driving danger: The dangers of smoking cannabis are detailed in new research.
Figures show there are around a million users of cannabis in the UK aged 16 to 24 – double the number for the entire 16 to 59 age group.
The research, published in the British Medical Journal, found cannabis use resulted in a "near doubling of risk of a driver being involved in a collision resulting in serious injury or death".
The researchers, based at Dalhousie University in Canada, went on to say, however, that the impact of cannabis consumption "on the risk of minor crashes remains unclear". Previous studies have suggested that cannabis impairs a person's mental abilities and the "motor tasks" needed for safe driving, increasing the risk of being a crash.
The experts added: "The results also accord with recent data for collisions that point to the increasing presence of drugs other than alcohol (especially cannabis and depressants of the central nervous system) in injured and fatally injured drivers."
The study is thought to be the first looking at crashes solely after taking cannabis.
Others have not differentiated between the effects of alcohol and other substances.
The present review involved people who either tested positive for cannabis use through blood tests – or who said they had used cannabis – in the previous three hours.
In all, more than 49,000 people were included in the nine studies.
The range of vehicles they were driving was wide, said the researchers.
It included cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, light or heavy trucks, buses, motorcycles or scooters, all terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
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by mattgaltress
Friday, February 10 2012, 8:53PM
“Perhaps this might make those in favour of decriminalization think...”
by cafka2020
Friday, February 10 2012, 6:31PM
“My granddaddy used to tell me " when there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth". It's only now that I can see how right he was. Rest in peace big Jim, rest in peace.”
by Dave_Nottm
Friday, February 10 2012, 6:14PM
“'Figures show there are around a million users of cannabis in the UK aged 16 to 24 – double the number for the entire 16 to 59 age group' - I presume that was meant to be '24 to 59', otherwise someone's maths are rather suspect”
by Max_Crater
Friday, February 10 2012, 2:05PM
“Think I'll give that one a miss thanks Mirrv. I'm depressed enough as it is and haven't got any amphetamines with me today so would fall asleep within a matter of minutes.”
by MiRRv
Friday, February 10 2012, 1:09PM
“ah max, if you want to seeing inane, beige, boring, middle england personified, go check out the comments on any story relating to trams, parking fee's, the council, and teachers...its really quite depressing”
by Max_Crater
Friday, February 10 2012, 12:35PM
“Max_Crater/yepitsthepigs - I don't think people appreciate your sense of humours...but you both got a green arrow from me! hee hee"
Thanks Gayleh69.
I've not been posting on here long but what's struck me already is how dull most of the posts are, present company excluded.
I've read more amusing comments in the obituaries.”
by MiRRv
Friday, February 10 2012, 12:34PM
“yeah, road safety is appalling the netherlkands....oh wait, no its not. its immesurably better than here, my mistake.”
by Gayleh69
Friday, February 10 2012, 12:07PM
“The researchers in Canada have suggested rather than proved. Lets be honest the 16-24 year age category are three times more likely to have a crash whether or not they're under the influence of something.
Max_Crater/yepitsthepigs - I don't think people appreciate your sense of humours...but you both got a green arrow from me! hee hee”
by MiRRv
Friday, February 10 2012, 11:56AM
“weird isnt it, amphetamines are banned in sport as they are deemed performance enhancing, yet i bet the police wouldnt see it that way if your were driving on them..
and in my experience stoned drivers drive sloooow and probably concentrate harder!”
by Max_Crater
Friday, February 10 2012, 10:54AM
“I prefer amphetamines to be honest.”