People smoking weed whilst driving.

Freefaller · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:40

Over the last few months I've noticed whilst being sat in traffic, drivers (or passengers) who seem to be smoking a forest's worth of weed. It seems that the owner's olfactory system is malfunctioning as it reeks of weed and if I can smell it from my car with the windows closed, then the amount they're smoking must be fairly substantial.

Maybe it's London, or maybe it's just SE London... or maybe it's just me (doubtful

). In London, where the police numbers are fairly high, why would you do it so brazenly? Furthermore, whether or not it's coincidental or not, the driving standards of that car is appalling.

The reason I posted is that it seems to be happening a lot more recently - certainly this week alone I've been stuck behind a weed car 3 times. The other reason I posted, is that, it's SO easy to smell / spot - why even bother? Anybody else spotted some weedy drivers

p) or is this a London based issue?

NathWraith · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:41

How can you recognise the smell eh? EH?!

rG-tom · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:42

I've been behind a fair few in manchester if that helps reaffirm that you don't want to live on this planet anymore

Stelly · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:42

I know what you mean, I have been in the same situation, it has to impede you as much as drink right?

Stelly

Vince · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:45

See it all the time, like you say London is the worst, east London, Canning town/ custom house area. Can't say I have noticed particularly bad driving from the offending vehicles mind.

Skidder · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:47

VinceB1 said:
See it all the time, like you say London is the worst, east London, Canning town/ custom house area. Can't say I have noticed particularly bad driving from the offending vehicles mind.

certainly some slow driving though

Vince · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:50

Skidder said:
certainly some slow driving though

They are in no rush thats for sure! "Dude chill back have a little bit of this and relax... we will get there in the end".

Dr Who · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:50

Saw it all the time in Bristol, yes they are brazen, makes you wonder doesn't it...

Freefaller · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:52

rG-tom said:
I've been behind a fair few in manchester if that helps reaffirm that you don't want to live on this planet anymore

I'm quite happy on this planet, I'm just surprised at how brazen people have become - I don't remember there being so many people smoking weed whilst driving in the past. I just find it rather disgraceful really.

Stelly said:
I know what you mean, I have been in the same situation, it has to impede you as much as drink right?

Stelly

I'd have thought so - it's a fairly potent drug and certainly alters your perception.

My main "issue" I guess is how brazen they are being about it, considering the hightened state of alert at the moment and the number of cops on the beat at the moment. It's not exactly a subtle thing to do whilst driving, certainly in London when the chances of being spotted is pretty high. It just seems like a stupid risk to take, and for what? #idontgetit

Deep · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:55

I've never seen this, hopefully just lucky.

I'd imagine this would be worse than drink driving.

randal · 7 Oct 2011 at 12:56

Skidder said:
certainly some slow driving though

Massive traffic jams at McDonalds too.

G-MAN2004 · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:03

Surprised they didn't have a large weed sticker on their window that says "I smoke weed lolz" as it seems to be something to boast about with a lot of people, despite the risk of getting caught. Why can't they just wait until they're home?... :confused:

Macky · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:05

Deep said:
I've never seen this, hopefully just lucky.

I'd imagine this would be worse than drink driving.

I really don't think it would be any worse than drink driving. Yeah, it would make your driving worse, slow down reactions etc, but not even on the same level as what alcohol would do to you. Copious amounts that is. 4+ pints or so. Hence why the punishment isn't that bad compared to drink driving despite weed being a class C drug, and why many people do it regularly.

Vince · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:05

Deep said:
I've never seen this, hopefully just lucky.

I'd imagine this would be worse than drink driving.

Nowhere near as bad. 5th gear done a section on it not long back. Gave a guy a spliff and asked him to drive a course. He was better or equal after taking the drug... Make of it what you will.

Macky · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:08

Well just think. How stupid are you when you're stoned compared to how stupid you are when drunk? I know which one I am.

Vince · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:09

Extract from the show... may not have been 5th gear.

(mods please remove if this breaks any rules)...

jigger · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:11

Stelly said:
I know what you mean, I have been in the same situation, it has to impede you as much as drink right?

Stelly

I seem to remember a trial about this. IIRC they used a drunk, a stoned guy and someone that had gone without sleep for over a day. The stoned driver was actually the safest out of them by a long way.

Might had been the Bob Marley tunes he was listening to though

The driver that had gone without sleep was the most dangerous.

Freefaller · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:11

G-MAN2004 said:
Surprised they didn't have a large weed sticker on their window that says "I smoke weed lolz" as it seems to be something to boast about with a lot of people, despite the risk of getting caught. Why can't they just wait until they're home?...

Indeed. It just seems like a pointless and stupid thing to do if you ask me. :confused:

Macky said:
Well just think. How stupid are you when you're stoned compared to how stupid you are when drunk? I know which one I am.

Eitherway depending on the potency and how your body reacts, would it not be better to just wait until you're at home? Furthermore, the risk of getting caught is massive - it's just stupid.

I've never really noticed it before, and this week 3 occaisions of spotting it whilst driving through London - it seems as though they just don't care - which I guess if stoned you wouldn't...

I guess I just don't "get it".

Freefaller · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:13

jigger said:
I seem to remember a trial about this. IIRC they used a drunk, a stoned guy and someone that had gone without sleep for over a day. The stoned driver was actually the safest out of them by a long way.

Might had been the Bob Marley tunes he was listening to though

I guess it also depends on how much his/her body is used to the drug and how it reacts to it?

I suppose it might make you more chilled out and go slower - however, that potentially has it's own hazards.

Deep · 7 Oct 2011 at 13:14

VinceB1 said:
Nowhere near as bad. 5th gear done a section on it not long back. Gave a guy a spliff and asked him to drive a course. He was better or equal after taking the drug... Make of it what you will.

I don't smoke weed so can't really say. But I have been around people who do it at university and IMO it seems worse than alcohol.

Would it be comparable to say that someone who has 2 pints is comparable to someone who has had 2 joints? If so it'd be interesting to see which has the worse effect.