Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show • Hacker News Board

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#11

Post by criley2 » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:32 PM UTC

throwaway2016a wrote: post #9

criley2 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>But what about their propensity to drive really slow? You mean like a bicycle, moped, a new parent driving extra slow, an elderly driver, or any other street legal slow vehicle does? I understand that drivers assume the speed LIMIT is a speed suggestion, and experience road rage when driving under the limit, but there is nothing -- nothing -- illegal or unsafe about staying under the speed limit. If there is somethi…

At least in the US you can get a ticket for going under the speed limit if it is deemed to be impeding traffic even if there is no posted minimum limit. Especially if it is a multi-lane road and you are not in the rightmost lane.

>At least in the US you can get a ticket

As a US citizen I will tell you this is false. We have basically no national traffic laws.

Your local state, city or other local government may have passed a law like this.

For example, in my area, it was made illegal to stay in the left lane moving more slowly than those behind you -- you must yield to the right if they want to go more quickly.

But some 99% of Americans do not live under this local law I'm discussing.

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#12

Post by MOARDONGZPLZ » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:32 PM UTC

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #8

riggins wrote: post #2

But what about their propensity to drive really slow?

Slowing down is the single most effective thing to reduce traffic accidents and injury. Not good for efficiency or smooth flow, sure. But can't claim its not safer.

Sure, I can make that claim. People driving slow, as you state, aren't good for smooth flow. Have you ever been driving at night at the speed limit and suddenly come upon someone going 15mph under? It's really dangerous.

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#13

Post by mankyd » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:33 PM UTC

beat wrote: post #7

Alcohol has two synergetic problems for drivers... it reduces reflexes and increases confidence, simultaneously. Less capable, and more aggressive. No wonder it's so awful for drivers. Marijuana doesn't significantly impair reflexes (as generations of musicians have shown). As for judgment, it tends to make users more cautious, not more aggressive. They're not trying to get around that car in front of them to blow th…

> Marijuana doesn't significantly impair reflexes (as generations of musicians have shown).

As an aside, is music really reliant on reflexes like this? I would assume that the beat of a song gives one plenty of forewarning as to when a melody might change.

And that assumes that the rhythm of a melody doesn't put you in am altered, hypnotic state in other ways.

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#14

Post by oarsinsync » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:36 PM UTC

> "At the current time, specific drug concentration levels cannot be reliably equated with a specific degree of driver impairment"

Massively leading title given the statement actually issued, and their own remarks later on:

> There's plenty of evidence showing that marijuana use impairs key driving skills[0]. If you get really stoned and then get behind the wheel, you're asking for trouble.

[0]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23220273

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#15

Post by Raphmedia » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:36 PM UTC

mankyd wrote: post #13

beat wrote: post #7

Alcohol has two synergetic problems for drivers... it reduces reflexes and increases confidence, simultaneously. Less capable, and more aggressive. No wonder it's so awful for drivers. Marijuana doesn't significantly impair reflexes (as generations of musicians have shown). As for judgment, it tends to make users more cautious, not more aggressive. They're not trying to get around that car in front of them to blow th…

> Marijuana doesn't significantly impair reflexes (as generations of musicians have shown). As an aside, is music really reliant on reflexes like this? I would assume that the beat of a song gives one plenty of forewarning as to when a melody might change. And that assumes that the rhythm of a melody doesn't put you in am altered, hypnotic state in other ways.

Depends. If you are randomly jamming with friends and someone is too stoned, he's going to have one hell of a time trying to keep up if you suddenly go from a slow repetitive bluesy riff to something more rock & roll.

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#16

Post by singlow » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:37 PM UTC

mankyd wrote: post #13

beat wrote: post #7

Alcohol has two synergetic problems for drivers... it reduces reflexes and increases confidence, simultaneously. Less capable, and more aggressive. No wonder it's so awful for drivers. Marijuana doesn't significantly impair reflexes (as generations of musicians have shown). As for judgment, it tends to make users more cautious, not more aggressive. They're not trying to get around that car in front of them to blow th…

> Marijuana doesn't significantly impair reflexes (as generations of musicians have shown). As an aside, is music really reliant on reflexes like this? I would assume that the beat of a song gives one plenty of forewarning as to when a melody might change. And that assumes that the rhythm of a melody doesn't put you in am altered, hypnotic state in other ways.

Jazz musicians and other improvisational music require fast reactions to other players.

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#17

Post by CraigJPerry » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:37 PM UTC

criley2 wrote: post #6

riggins wrote: post #2

But what about their propensity to drive really slow?

>But what about their propensity to drive really slow? You mean like a bicycle, moped, a new parent driving extra slow, an elderly driver, or any other street legal slow vehicle does? I understand that drivers assume the speed LIMIT is a speed suggestion, and experience road rage when driving under the limit, but there is nothing -- nothing -- illegal or unsafe about staying under the speed limit. If there is somethi…

I've seen the result of a driver unexpectedly doing just over 35mph on a moderately busy 70mph motorway. Not nice. I don't even think 35mph is that much slower really - trucks are at 56mph and they get along fine but 35ish resulted in all sorts of crazy last minute swerves.

It's generally wise not to do anything other drivers will find surprising and I guess 35mph on a motorway falls in that category.

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#18

Post by [deleted] » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:37 PM UTC

JPKab wrote: post #3

As a full supporter of cannabis legalization, I'm also a big supporter of a technology that can instantly detect whether someone's reflexes are impaired by cannabis. Notice that I'm focusing on whether or not they are impaired, as opposed to the amount in their bloodstream. The point being that people that use cannabis regularly for medical reasons don't seem to be impaired by it at all, while newer or more occasiona…

[deleted]

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#19

Post by [deleted] » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:37 PM UTC

JPKab wrote: post #3

As a full supporter of cannabis legalization, I'm also a big supporter of a technology that can instantly detect whether someone's reflexes are impaired by cannabis. Notice that I'm focusing on whether or not they are impaired, as opposed to the amount in their bloodstream. The point being that people that use cannabis regularly for medical reasons don't seem to be impaired by it at all, while newer or more occasiona…

[deleted]

Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show

#20

Post by zamalek » Mon, May 16, 2016, 2:40 PM UTC

beat wrote: post #7

Alcohol has two synergetic problems for drivers... it reduces reflexes and increases confidence, simultaneously. Less capable, and more aggressive. No wonder it's so awful for drivers. Marijuana doesn't significantly impair reflexes (as generations of musicians have shown). As for judgment, it tends to make users more cautious, not more aggressive. They're not trying to get around that car in front of them to blow th…

I know a few people (myself included) who claim to get impaired by marijuana. While I don't drink and drive myself, some of that crowd do, but, they never smoke and drive.

Not only is there the correlation as described in the article, I've also seen (p=0) much more honest self-evaluation on marijuana.