Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
washingtonpost.com
Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
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Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#2But what about their propensity to drive really slow?
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#3As 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 occasional users are certainly impaired.
It would be fascinating to see what kind of technologies could be used to achieve this that folks on HN are aware of.
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#4But what about their propensity to drive really slow?
Yeah, I would argue that stoned drivers make everyone else a less safe driver.
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#5But what about their propensity to drive really slow?
Given the first paragraph of the article, that doesn't seem to make any difference.
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#6But 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 something unsafe about it, there should be a minimum posted speed (many places have this).
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#7Alcohol 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 through the used-to-be-yellow light - they're trying to make sure they remember where they're going...
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#8But 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.
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#9But 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…
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.
Re: Stoned drivers are safer than drunk ones, new federal data show
#10But 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.
> 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.
Go to any motorcycle riding school and all their instructors will teach you that riding slower than the traffic around you is more dangerous than maintaining the average traffic speed, even when above the legal speed limit.