A few semi-random thoughts from some who has known a lot of drug users, drunk drivers and other dodgyiness.
I understand why drunk driving in done on BAC, but thats absolute, not relative. I've known people who I would trust driving more at BAC 0.1 - 0.15 than others at 0.049.
Sure, lots of medications and illegal drugs can lead to a positive drugs blood test. As far as I know they aren't commonly done, and like swab tests are unevenly applied (you've got a much higher chance of being tested if you are non-white, or living in a lower socioeconomic area, etc.).
Generally, provided you're driving a decent car in decent condition in a decent area, don't smell of drugs, aren't being really obvious, and aren't being obnoxious, you wont get tested.
I really doubt that people who will be prescribed medical marijuana wont be fit to have a drivers licence. Its counterintuitive, or you can say its just jargonistic bs. From 'assessing fitness to drive - Austroads'-
"Opioids
There is little direct evidence that opioid analgesics such as hydromorphone, morphine or oxycodone have direct adverse effects on
driving behaviour. Cognitive performance is reduced early in treatment, largely due to their sedative effects, but neuroadaptation is
rapidly established. This means that patients on a stable dose of an opioid may not have a higher risk of a crash."
https://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/downloads/AP-G56-13
The medical conditions where cannabis would be proscribed will not be any 'worse' than the ones they give opioids to. As far as neuroadaptation goes, I would say that the same applies to cannabis.
The funny thing is that the same document mentions antidepressants 'ability to impair', that 'most antipsychotics are sedating and have the potential to adversely affect driving skills' and that "Benzodiazepines are well known to increase the risk of a crash and are found in about 4% of fatalities and 16% of injured drivers taken to hospital."
Does this mean that we should also take away the licences of people on antidepressants, antipsychotics and/or benzodiazepines automatically? By the way, less than 2% of the population takes benzos.
If the level is set at zero for cannabis, that would be in my opinion unfair, and could lead to people doing worse medications/drugs instead.
I'd rather be in a car with a stoned person driving than someone on hydromorphone, morphine or oxycodone. Or benzodiazepines.
They really need a better system. But I guess this is what happens when a 1200kg+ vehicle capable of 110 kph+ is considered normal, not dangerous. Being hit with 100kg at 40kph is nothing comapred to a car. I mean..who would be worried about sharing a bike path with some stoned guy? Yep, thats right, if you've ridden the trials on the weekend you've already done it.
In the end, its far easier to kill yourself and/or others with a motor vehicle than a bike. Even if someone off their face enough to crash did get moving up to a decent speed, in my opinion most people will see the signs that the rider is out of it.
If the public considered motor vehicles to be as dangerous as I think they are, people would lose licences far more easily. But when its considered a necessity......
out:
