Research indicates that combining cannabis and alcohol leads to more severe driving impairment than using either alone. Cannabis affects lane control, while alcohol increases speed, with both substances together worsening lane maintenance without counteracting each other’s effects.
New research published today (January 27, 2022) in the scientific journal Addiction has found that cannabis combined with alcohol is more detrimental to driving performance than either used in isolation. This meta-analysis merged the findings of 57 studies representing about 1,725 participants.
The analysis found that cannabis and alcohol use on their own produce different types of poor driving. The effects are additive when the two substances are used together.
The effects of cannabis on driving performance were similar to those of low blood alcohol concentrations. Cannabis use on its own reduces lateral control of the vehicle (the ability to stay in the lane) even though drivers under the influence of cannabis slow their driving speed, possibly in an attempt to compensate for their impaired state.
In contrast, alcohol use on its own increases driving speed, which may indicate that drivers under the influence of alcohol lack awareness of their impaired state. Alcohol also affects a greater number of driving performance indicators relative to cannabis, including increased crashes, lateral position variability, lane excursions, speed, and speed variability, as well as reduced hazard response time.
The combination of both drugs generally impairs the ability to maintain lane position more than either substance taken on its own. The study found no evidence that the two drugs counteract each other on speed.
Reference: “The Effects of Cannabis and Alcohol on Driving Performance and Driver Behaviour: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” by Sarah M. Simmons, Jeff K. Caird, Frances Sterzer and Mark Asbridge, 27 January 2022, Addiction.
DOI: 10.1111/add.15770
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2 Comments
As Freewheelin’ Franklin of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers once said,”Smokin’dope & drinkin’ beer is like p*ssin’ into the wind…”
Impaired drivers are the true Domestic Terrorist. But, since the cops and judges are all drunks, no one wants to arrest them. Actually a .22 bullet behind their ear is the cure. Yes, an impaired driver removed my wife from life over a whiskey double.