PUFF, THE DANGEROUS DRIVER (MARIJUANA USE AND DRIVING)

In an experiment on the effect of smoking marijuana on driving performance, the four "Car and Driver" test drivers describe the test procedure and give personal accounts of their experience. A slalom course was used to test dexterity (five sets of two runs each), and a lane change tested reaction time. After establishing a baseline on the slalom, each driver took two drags on a marijuana joint, waited five minutes, and then began the driving test. The times recorded for the baseline and the test runs do not indicate that any of the drivers' performance was impaired by marijuana use. A separate note presents comments by a research scientist specializing in drugs and their effects on driving at the Highway Safety Research Institute, University of Michigan. The scientist stated that the present test results are consistent with those of other closed-course studies. Although hundreds of studies have been conducted, there is no statistical proof that marijuana impairs driving ability. Although psychomotor coordination is not impaired by the drug, judgment and information processing are apparently affected. Sensations reported by the drivers indicate that marijuana increases the danger of falling asleep and impairs long-term concentration.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/4814147
• Corporate Authors:

  Ziff Davis Publishing Company

  1 Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016
• Authors:
  • Knepper, M
• Publication Date: 1980-6

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 9 p.
• Serial:
  • Car and Driver
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0008-6002

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemical concentration; Driver performance; Drivers; Drowsiness; Judgment; Marijuana; Motor skills; Personnel performance; Reaction time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Concentration; Psychomotor performance
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00384719
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 077
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: May 30 1984 12:00AM