Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study • Hacker News Board

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#81

Post by VerifiedReports » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:09 PM UTC

epistasis wrote: post #7

Based on the headline, I was guessing it was any amount of positivity, and may be close to the population level, but it's actually impairment levels of THC: > In a review of 246 deceased drivers, 41.9% tested positive for active THC in their blood, with an average level of 30.7 ng/mL — far exceeding most state impairment limits. Since COVID in CA, it feels like driving has become far more dangerous with much more law…

The most galling and pervasive offense, though, is TEXTING. The rampant texting while driving is killing pedestrians (and other drivers), leading to oft-cited statistics about the failure of "Vision Zero" and the increase in pedestrian deaths. Not to mention the millions of hours stolen from us all by people BLOCKING TRAFFIC while texting.

We should not tolerate the ignorant and ineffectual response from lawmakers on this issue. Year after year, they refuse to do the right thing: make texting a DUI-level offense, with the same penalties. You could even argue that texting while driving is worse than DUI: Drunk people suffer from impaired judgment; sober people texting have decided to endanger and steal from everyone else while in full command of their faculties. It's despicable.

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#82

Post by dawnerd » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:10 PM UTC

gretch wrote: post #48

epistasis wrote: post #7

Based on the headline, I was guessing it was any amount of positivity, and may be close to the population level, but it's actually impairment levels of THC: > In a review of 246 deceased drivers, 41.9% tested positive for active THC in their blood, with an average level of 30.7 ng/mL — far exceeding most state impairment limits. Since COVID in CA, it feels like driving has become far more dangerous with much more law…

The running red lights thing is crazy. I think at it's height, I would maybe see 3 people do this in a single 20 minute drive. And not like running a late yellow, but a full on my-light-is-green-and-there's-a-guy-in-front-of-me-sideways It has dropped a bit now though.

I was tboned by someone that swore their light was green. I had a dedicated turn. Thank goodness for cameras.

The trend I’ve noticed this year is turning right from the middle lane cutting off people in the turn lane.

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#83

Post by formerly_proven » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:11 PM UTC

Sparkle-san wrote: post #53

terminalshort wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the truth is that habitual users are always impaired. Source: former habitual user.

Got any real sources? I've been a daily user for over 10 years and also have a spotless driving record.

It is very noticeable to basically everyone when you consume cannabis regularly.

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#84

Post by antonymoose » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:12 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #79

epistasis wrote: post #7

Based on the headline, I was guessing it was any amount of positivity, and may be close to the population level, but it's actually impairment levels of THC: > In a review of 246 deceased drivers, 41.9% tested positive for active THC in their blood, with an average level of 30.7 ng/mL — far exceeding most state impairment limits. Since COVID in CA, it feels like driving has become far more dangerous with much more law…

I think it's lawlessness overall. For instance, consider San Fransisco traffic citations. Went from around 11k in 2014-2015 steadily down and then fell off a cliff during covid but never recovered (around 1k in 2023). I remember the sad story of Eric Garner who was killed in 2014 while being arrested for selling loose cigarettes in Staten Island. Today, at least in NYC, you see people parked out in front of the same…

I do believe you’re mixing up Michael Brown in Missouri who robbed a gas station and assaulted a cop and attempted to steal his pistol (per your own link) with Eric Garner in New York who was choked out by a police officer and subsequently died.

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#85

Post by nomel » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:12 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #79

epistasis wrote: post #7

Based on the headline, I was guessing it was any amount of positivity, and may be close to the population level, but it's actually impairment levels of THC: > In a review of 246 deceased drivers, 41.9% tested positive for active THC in their blood, with an average level of 30.7 ng/mL — far exceeding most state impairment limits. Since COVID in CA, it feels like driving has become far more dangerous with much more law…

I think it's lawlessness overall. For instance, consider San Fransisco traffic citations. Went from around 11k in 2014-2015 steadily down and then fell off a cliff during covid but never recovered (around 1k in 2023). I remember the sad story of Eric Garner who was killed in 2014 while being arrested for selling loose cigarettes in Staten Island. Today, at least in NYC, you see people parked out in front of the same…

https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/to-reduce-racial-ineq...

Are there any stats for incorrect crime reporting based on political leaning?

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#86

Post by mantas » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:12 PM UTC

reactordev wrote: post #29

Just noting there’s a difference between THC in your system and THC in your blood. THC leaves the bloodstream after your high. Goes into fat cells and other areas to be broken down and processed (up to a month) later. Having it in the bloodstream after an accident means they were intoxicated at the time according to science. Whether their CB1 receptors were letting it through is another matter. I can smoke a lot of w…

It should be the other way around. If there’s no good way to test, then no driving with any THC in blood.

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#87

Post by Someone » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:12 PM UTC

> In a review of 246 deceased drivers, 41.9% tested positive for active THC in their blood, with an average level of 30.7 ng/mL — far exceeding most state impairment limits.

That could mean they all had levels far exceeding most state impairment limits, but it also could mean most of them had trace levels, while a few had levels way above 30.7 ng/mL. So, it says fairly little.

Also (FTA) “Researchers analyzed coroner records from Montgomery County in Ohio from January 2019 to September 2024, focusing on 246 deceased drivers who were tested for THC following a fatal crash”. That means there could be selection bias at play.

Finally, no mention is made on the levels of THC in the general population of of those driving cars. Both _could_ be equal or even higher.

I’m not sure one should blame (only) the researchers for these statements, though. Chances are they didn’t intend to find out whether THC use is a major cause of vehicle crashes, but only in whether legalizing THC use changed those numbers, and someone managed to get some more juicy quotes from them.

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#88

Post by VerifiedReports » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:12 PM UTC

nothrabannosir wrote: post #73

Benjammer wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Since COVID in CA, it feels like driving has become far more dangerous with much more lawlessness regarding excessive speeding and running red lights, going into the left lane to turn right in front of stopped cars, all sorts of weird things NYC has had the same effect since COVID, and over the last year or two it's gotten to the point where every single light at every busy intersection in Manhattan you get 2-3 cars…

Funny I ride a bike in Manhattan & BK (but only post COVID) and I very rarely experience cars going through reds. IME cars here respect traffic lights and stop signs. I try and count cars actually running a red ("speeding" through it) and it's rare, say 1/mo tops. Ymv I guess :) They do not, though, give an owl's hoot about yielding to straight traffic when turning. I suspect NY drivers are on a big group chat encour…

The worst are assholes "blocking the box" while there is space to pull forward along the curb or even the neighboring lane. This should be a tripled fine, simply for the monumental level of douchebaggery displayed.

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#89

Post by ck2 » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:13 PM UTC

dragonwriter wrote: post #58

ck2 wrote: post #45

I live in a "working poor" neighborhood 50% of the people on this street get stoned before driving to work, every single day dope isn't even legal here and even if it was DUI is wildly illegal We can only cure this if we get serious about penalties because we can't undo murder and injuries How about first time warning, second time weekend in jail, third time week in jail, fourth time month in jail, fifth time year in…

> We can only cure this if we get serious about penalties Saying that in the country with world-leading mass incarceration mostly due to its decades long “war on drugs” which has very much not cured drug problems is a perfect example of putting ideological preconceptions ahead of reality.

most people who get put in jail/prison for drugs do not get a "taste" of how horrible it is and get years right off the bat for first offense

that's why I proposed five steps starting with warning, weekend, then week in jail

if you spend a weekend in jail and don't change your behavior from doing something wildly dangerous yet absolutely not addicting, well then proceed to a year in prison

note I am not saying put people in prison simply for smoking dope, it's not legal here but there are no serious penalties if caught

I don't care what people do in their homes

You drive on the road stoned when I am riding my bike or running and put my life in danger, you definitely deserve some time to think about it behind bars

I've been "grazed" on the road many time over the years, I have no idea if people are drunk or stoned or just looking at their phones but I am okay with my five step idea for ALL of those cases, but they will never be caught anyway until they murder someone and then it's too late

Re: Over 40% of deceased drivers in vehicle crashes test positive for THC: Study

#90

Post by darubedarob » Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:13 PM UTC

zoklet-enjoyer wrote: post #63

y-c-o-m-b wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before this year I had only seen 1 wrong way driver in 30 years. In the last year alone I've seen 6! I saw one person going the wrong direction in a round-about. Another person going over the inner portion of a round-about. People stopping in the road for no reason. It's insane. The strange driving patterns is indeed a major issue. I thought it was maybe a Gen Z thing, but often times these people seem to be between…

Come to Fargo. I see it multiple times a year. Usually right after a new semester starts and the farm kids don't know about one ways haha

Its usually drivers license transfers from countries where small bribes can "buy" you a license? https://wise.com/us/blog/transfer-international-driver-licen...

The worst offenders are usually the older generations of countries where driving en mass is a recent thing. The old red guard uncles and aunties regularly run red lights cause who gives a damn about the law when you experienced the rule of the mob throughout your formative years. So parents and grandparents of students would be my guess.