Marijuana Users Are Safer Drivers Than Non-Marijuana Users, New Study Shows

[dead0man]

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In a recent study, 4AutoinsuranceQuote.org, a national quote provider for online car insurance quotes, cites a strong correlation between traffic-related accidents and marijuana use. The study, which looks at statistics regarding accidents, traffic violations, and insurance prices, seeks to dispel the thought that "driving while stoned" is dangerous.

In the study, 4AutoInsuranceQuote.org points out that the only significant effect that marijuana has on operating a motor vehicle is slower driving. 4AutoInsuranceQuote.org says, while referencing a study by the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), that driving slower "is arguably a positive thing" and that driving under the influence of marijuana "might even make you a safer driver." A similar study by the NHTSA shows that drivers with THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) in their system have accident responsibility rates below that of drug free drivers.

In fact, a recent study shows that use of medical marijuana has caused traffic related fatalities to drop by up to nine percent in states that have legalized its use. This study, titled "Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption", conducted by Mark Anderson and Daniel Rees in November 2011, shows that increased marijuana use amongst adults has decreased alcohol related traffic deaths in said states. This study provides solid evidence that marijuana is not only a safe substitute for alcohol, but it also makes for more safer drivers.

"Marijuana users often say that when they are high, they feel like they are driving 80 miles per hour but actually are only going 30 miles per hour," 4AutoInsuranceQuote.org CEO James Shaffer says, "when somebody is drunk driving, on the other hand, they often feel like they are driving 30 miles per hour but are actually driving 80 miles per hour. This is what makes alcohol dangerous behind the wheel, and marijuana safe."

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Yes, there is a million (ok, just a dozen or so) things wrong with this study..I just did it to post this picture

[Cathcon]

I know at least one person who'll be happy to hear this.

[Communists For McCain]

Wow tell us something we don't know.

This will be devastating to all the morons who insisted that if we legalized marijuana auto accidents would skyrocket because people who drive while stoned "just don't care".

[© Tweed the Younger]

one dangerous thing SWIM noticed about driving stoned is 'cognitive narrowing' - he'd be so focused on staying in the lane that he'd forget to look for stop signs, for instance.

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

[Big Wiggly Style]

This is my reaction to you posting this.

[shua]

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In fact, a recent study shows that use of medical marijuana has caused traffic related fatalities to drop by up to nine percent in states that have legalized its use.

The statistical illiteracy of some people . . .

[dialectical fetishist]

All the studies in the past have shown that marijuana either tends to leave driving competence unchanged or result in a slight improvement, iirc.

[Cory]

Speaking of this debate, am I the only one who notices that the staunch opponents of legalizing MJ are always people who:

-have never tried it
-still believe everything they heard in DARE class (basically reefer madness 2.0)

I still have yet to hear convincing or serious arguments against this. The reason is because it's logically impossible to be against legalizing MJ and not be in favor of re-instituting prohibition of alcohol.

[So the Heroes Fall]

Hey maybe I should revive my idea of going to church high.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Maybe they know they shouldn't text if they're driving while stoned. Sober and texting is definitely worse than stoned and not texting.

[So the Heroes Fall]

Maybe they know they shouldn't text if they're driving while stoned. Sober and texting is definitely worse than stoned and not texting.

Well of course, but it's also probably safer to be driving with a 0.15 BAC than a zero one while texting.

[Chareth Cutestory]

Hey maybe I should revive my idea of going to church high.

The more you talk about it, the less interesting it becomes.

[5280/East California]

Here's a chart to show you some of the major drugs, Cannabis is in the lower quadrant.



Statistically, alcohol and tobacco is more damaging than marijuana.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

one dangerous thing SWIM noticed about driving stoned is 'cognitive narrowing' - he'd be so focused on staying in the lane that he'd forget to look for stop signs, for instance.

SWIM also noticed this phenomena as he drove around in his hometown. 99% of the time he'd drive flawlessly although he'd be more cautious than usual but occasionally he'd make a ridiculous mistake that clearly indicated he was under the influence.

[King]

I'm more likely to go the speed limit when I'm stoned, so this is not surprising.

[ShadowOfTheWave]

Keep pot illegal, once it becomes legal the government will just stamp their taxes on it. It's actually one of the last free American enterprises.

It really pisses me off that people are hypocritical about pot, they oppose it but then go get drunk at a bar. Too bad the news probably won't make a big deal out of this.

[Governor Scott]

Keep pot illegal, once it becomes legal the government will just stamp their taxes on it. It's actually one of the last free American enterprises.

It really pisses me off that people are hypocritical about pot, they oppose it but then go get drunk at a bar. Too bad the news probably won't make a big deal out of this.

...We should keep pot illegal because the possibility of the government taxing something is worse than jail?

Wow.

[crypto-fascist superhero]

Keep pot illegal, once it becomes legal the government will just stamp their taxes on it. It's actually one of the last free American enterprises.

It really pisses me off that people are hypocritical about pot, they oppose it but then go get drunk at a bar. Too bad the news probably won't make a big deal out of this.

...We should keep pot illegal because the possibility of the government taxing something is worse than jail?

Wow.

I think the effect of the statement is that it should be kept illegal, but the laws shouldn't be enforced.  Which is something I have a degree of sympathy to for the reason he pointed out.

[Governor Scott]

Keep pot illegal, once it becomes legal the government will just stamp their taxes on it. It's actually one of the last free American enterprises.

It really pisses me off that people are hypocritical about pot, they oppose it but then go get drunk at a bar. Too bad the news probably won't make a big deal out of this.

...We should keep pot illegal because the possibility of the government taxing something is worse than jail?

Wow.

I think the effect of the statement is that it should be kept illegal, but the laws shouldn't be enforced.  Which is something I have a degree of sympathy to for the reason he pointed out.

I... guess that makes sense, if you're against a pot tax.  Still, I don't see how the government would be able to legalize something and keep it "illegal" at the same time.

[TJ in Wisco]

Keep pot illegal, once it becomes legal the government will just stamp their taxes on it. It's actually one of the last free American enterprises.

It really pisses me off that people are hypocritical about pot, they oppose it but then go get drunk at a bar. Too bad the news probably won't make a big deal out of this.

...We should keep pot illegal because the possibility of the government taxing something is worse than jail?

Wow.

I think the effect of the statement is that it should be kept illegal, but the laws shouldn't be enforced.  Which is something I have a degree of sympathy to for the reason he pointed out.

I... guess that makes sense, if you're against a pot tax.  Still, I don't see how the government would be able to legalize something and keep it "illegal" at the same time.

You've never seen underage drinking on a college campus then

[5280/East California]

Make pot legal, the government is in debt up to their ears.  That might ease away the people around university campuses nationwide on 4/20 and cops can focus on better things like thief and burglary.

[ModerateCoward]

Speaking of this debate, am I the only one who notices that the staunch opponents of legalizing MJ are always people who:

-have never tried it
-still believe everything they heard in DARE class (basically reefer madness 2.0)

I still have yet to hear convincing or serious arguments against this. The reason is because it's logically impossible to be against legalizing MJ and not be in favor of re-instituting prohibition of alcohol.

You forgot one(but they are a minority, 1-3% of those opposing legalization)
- people who quit marijuana for a very lucrative career

[Cory]

You forgot one(but they are a minority, 1-3% of those opposing legalization)
- people who quit marijuana for a very lucrative career

Those people still have no valid reason for opposing it.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Here's a chart to show you some of the major drugs, Cannabis is in the lower quadrant.



Statistically, alcohol and tobacco is more damaging than marijuana.

Never heard of this drug khat before, but it's to the lower left of pot, and it's banned in the US, too. I guess we wanted to expand the drug war for some reason.