To be clear, drug use can cause impairment. As clearly, Pot remains illegal in all 50 states. Even in jurisdictions that have decriminalized it, Dope remains illegal under federal law. Even in those decriminalized jurisdictions, impaired driving remains illegal, dangerous, and potentially fatal. Suggesting otherwise is misinformation.
The news recently featured a story regarding an accident "that killed six high school girls in Oklahoma." A report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the "16-year-old driver" rolled up on a stop sign and "then accelerat(ed) through" without stopping.
The pictures of the vehicle are gut-wrenching (the news used "horrific."). Some may find it difficult to identify even the vehicle manufacturer based on appearance. And, it may be simply too difficult to view.
I suspect that many drivers have rolled through an intersection similarly. I recall one intersection at which I have never observed my fellow drivers stop. It is a four-way in the middle of farm country. From any direction, drivers have unimpeded 360-degree views at least a half mile in all directions.
I have had following motorists angered at me for slowing before and stopping at those four signs. The common neighborhood practice is to blow right through that intersection. Those of us who stop periodically receive sign-language repercussions.
I find that many students today have never heard the term, but in my youth, this was referred to as a "rolling stop," and was common in making right turns. We also referred to it as a "California Roll" or "California Stop." According to the Sacramento Bee, those terms are still used by some. But one now perhaps refers more readily to Sushi.
But, the real point of the story is that the teen driving in this tragedy "likely was impaired by recent marijuana use." THC was found in the body, and drugs were recovered at the scene.
Notably, also, the vehicle was a Chevrolet Spark, which reportedly has four seats. The NTSB reported that this young driver had five passengers, plus the driver, and the "crash () killed six high school girls." In overloading a vehicle, there are potential issues of road visibility, driver distraction, and more. The Daily Mail suggests several passengers were unrestrained (safety device), and that the number of teenagers might have been distracting.
Nonetheless, the NTSB is concerned about Dope. The Chair of the NTSB noted that "the Cannabis problem isn't limited to teens." There is some contention that driving under the influence of weed may be dangerous (sarcasm). Of course, we have all been assured for years that marijuana never killed anyone. That contention is increasingly doubted.
Why does Dope challenge us? There is some inclination to mischaracterize it. The news story says "As more states have legalized recreational Marijuana, teens and adults tend to underestimate the risks of driving under its influence." Misinformation and misdirection. No state has or can "legalize."
In this, the news notes that “There's a perception that in states where it's legal that it's safe and legal." The very article reporting on the NTSB report interprets misperceptions that it is somehow "legal to drive impaired on Marijuana.” Clearly, it is not "legal" to use Ganja. States have decriminalized it, but Mary Jane is not "legal" in a single state. See Decriminalizing Weed (May 2021).
The news report on this crash mischaracterizes that and claims Dope is in fact "legal" in 25 U.S. jurisdictions. Some of the blame for untoward outcomes may rest at the feet of journalists who perpetuate such "legal" misinformation. For children and others, a belief that something is "legal" may lead to both acceptance and use. Beyond this, to my knowledge, no state has decriminalized Weed for minors.
Legalization per se is likely coming. Congress has not acted on the legalization, but the Drug Enforcement Administration will likely reclassify Grass in coming days. It will remain a "controlled substance" but with federal easing, it will become increasingly available, accepted, and used. Some might say it cannot become any more available, as they point to the pot stores throughout America.
What will deregulation bring? It is likely that more people will be under the influence of these substances, or "high." That may be while lounging at the beach, chilling on their porch, or driving down the road. That last one worries me. The NTSB notes that "marijuana decreases motor coordination, slows reaction time, and impairs judgment of time and distance, all critical functions for driving."
I have noted for years that there will be issues with vehicle use. See
Pot, Impairment, and Car Crashes (July 2017). The government is legislating safety as regards impairment that may eventually produce decreased impaired driving. See Safety is Coming (March 2022). But, the impairment-detecting car is not here yet, and once new vehicles have that technology it will take decades before non-equiped cars are unavailable on the market. It will be forever before I will own one.
The crash story reminds us of multiple critical points. First, vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of workplace injury. There are always potentials for impaired drivers to be on the roads with us, whether because of alcohol, Weed, prescription medications, exhaustion, distraction, and the list goes on. The driver of the gravel truck that struck the teens at 50 MPH in this collision was likely injured on the job as a result. Go look at that vehicle picture and remember this was only a 50 MPH collision.
Nonetheless, impaired driving is illegal (as is Dope). Some may struggle with a perceived willingness to ignore illegal weed use generally but to prosecute doped driving. Nonetheless, that is likely. As likely, employers may deny compensability of work injuries due to impairment by, or even use of, Dope. Or, they may deny in some jurisdictions for violating the law (stop sign), overloading the vehicle, or violating company rules (too many passengers).
It may be acceptable to some for workers to be exhausted or to use medication at their desks but not while operating plant equipment, vehicles, etc. Thus, the second point is impairment and injury risk may fluctuate with job function and requirements. However, the impairment itself may nonetheless present risks and challenges in the workplace; risks of error, accident, and injury.
Third, in the vehicle setting, the NTSB chair thinks that impaired driving has not received the attention it should. She sees states as "far ahead on legalizing it, but very behind when it comes to traffic safety.” Thus, from atop an important government safety commission perch, a leader laments societal Dope status and carelessly reinforces the misconception of "legal."
At the end of the day, the relaxations regarding Ganja seem to be increasing use. There are some reports that increased use has led to increased involvement in motor vehicle accidents, and by extrapolation perhaps more accidents generally. In that, there are perhaps concerns for workplace safety generally and in vehicles specifically.
Despite the dangers, the NTSB notes that only two states have required a "drug and alcohol abuse (school) curriculum" regarding Doped driving. There is some suggestion that people may not know that Weed can impair function and that public education on the topic will help the young avoid such tragedies. Will education similarly be necessary in the workplace as well?
Is there really someone out there that does not realize drug use can cause impairment? Don't we all easily grasp that exhaustion can cause impairment? Has the impaired driving discussion of the last 40 years failed to reach someone? Perhaps so. And, generally, additional education is always good.
In the end, a tragic outcome for six. Weed and driving don't mix. Stop means stop. Overloaded vehicles are dangerous. The outcome here is tragic, but unfortunately perhaps predictable. If you made it through the horrific pictures of that Chevy Spark, the pictures of the six promising lives extinguished are in the Daily Mail; a tremendous and senseless waste.
