CANNABIS AND DRIVING RISK

The aims of this paper are to review research on cannabis and driving, to suggest areas of research need, and to discuss the need for countermeasures related to cannabis use and driving. The combination of experience, multi-drug use and task complexity make clear generalization difficult. No easy breath, blood or urine testing method has been developed which would rival the alcohol testing methods in assessing accident drivers or victims. Theoretically, any number of personality or cognitive effects of cannabis could relate to driving risk. The available data suggests that cannabis would be most likely to cause accidents (if at all) by reducing attentiveness to traffic hazards and least likely by increasing aggressiveness or speed. The available data would appear to suggest that "highness" under marijuana is liable to decrease sensory, motor and tracking performances associated with driving. Countermeasures against cannabis and driving are probably not needed at this time. Without an easy roadside testing device a credible countermeasure is not likely to be developed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • From Cannabis and Man.
• Corporate Authors:

  Churchill (J&A), Limited

  Gloucester Place 104
  London W I,   England 
• Authors:
  • Smart, R G
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 19 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Countermeasures; Driver performance; Drivers; Drugs; Drunk driving; Hazards; Marijuana; Motor skills; Personality; Personnel performance; Risk assessment
• Old TRIS Terms: Sensory motor coordination
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00131839
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM