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AADD Moderators: andyturbo
Super Important - Drugs and Driving
- Thread starter Pleonastic
- Start date
endlesseulogy
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2003
- Messages
- 2,831
I agree with the new drug driving legislation, but I strongly disagree with the science behind it and how it is being enforced. It seems to me like the authorities are just looking for an excuse to find and persecute small-time users. The current equipment they are using to test drivers is able to detect MDMA in the saliva up to 72 to hours after ingestion. That’s three days. This basically means that if you drive three days after consuming MDMA, there is a chance you will get your licence taken away and fined over $1000 dollars. This is absolutely ridiculous. The trace elements of MDMA in your system would be too minute to have any effect on your reflexes and driving ability.
Drink drivers have the luxury of limits (.05) and the lack of sensitive testing that does not test saliva. Cannabis is a similar story. These tests can detect the presence of cannabis up to 18 hours after smoking it. This is also ridiculous as the psychological and noticeable physical duration curve of cannabis is about 2-6 hours.
Methamphetamine alone hasn't even been proven to inhibit people's driving. ADD/ADHD sufferers are on the roads right now with Amphetamine derivatives in their system and they get off Scott free. Methamphetamine in theory might actually improve ones driving because of its ability to hasten one's reaction times and concentration levels. Infact, in WW2 Methamphetamine was given to allied and German fighter pilots because it improved their accuracy at target point and gave them the strength to stay up in the air for long periods. Methamphetamine used in conjunction with other drugs is another story however. Let's not forget the new legal Amphetamine subsitiute mondafil that is totally acceptable to drive under the influence of.
http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/3/1/14
It would be good to see the police enforce this policy with more accuracy and integrity rather then using it as a catch net for small-time drug users.
Drink drivers have the luxury of limits (.05) and the lack of sensitive testing that does not test saliva. Cannabis is a similar story. These tests can detect the presence of cannabis up to 18 hours after smoking it. This is also ridiculous as the psychological and noticeable physical duration curve of cannabis is about 2-6 hours.
Methamphetamine alone hasn't even been proven to inhibit people's driving. ADD/ADHD sufferers are on the roads right now with Amphetamine derivatives in their system and they get off Scott free. Methamphetamine in theory might actually improve ones driving because of its ability to hasten one's reaction times and concentration levels. Infact, in WW2 Methamphetamine was given to allied and German fighter pilots because it improved their accuracy at target point and gave them the strength to stay up in the air for long periods. Methamphetamine used in conjunction with other drugs is another story however. Let's not forget the new legal Amphetamine subsitiute mondafil that is totally acceptable to drive under the influence of.
http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/3/1/14
It would be good to see the police enforce this policy with more accuracy and integrity rather then using it as a catch net for small-time drug users.
Last edited:
maxload
Ex-Bluelighter
I agree EE. It is more crime enforcement than public safety concerns.
I don't condone drink/drug driving, but the only reason I don't do it is because if I did have an accident then I would go down, not because I believe my driving is impaired enough to adversely affect my driving.
Whack! There is $1000 on the table that says I can drive from the valley to my home ( 10 min ) a thousand times after a pill and not have an accident. It is hard to believe but I know it is true. I wouldn't do it because of morals but it doesn't change statistical reality that the chance of any traffic incident is small.
Different story if I was so drunk I couldn't stand. The difference between a joint and being drunk is you can recover alot in an hour or 2 after a smoke compared to booze. Hell I think that that there is more of a danger from people with poor eyesight or the elderly who have the reflexes of a snail. I have driven in near monsoon rain with visibilty so bad that I would have been better off stoned. I survived not because of skill or luck but because I adjusted to the conditions and didn't take any risks.
I expect a few burns for these comments but that is what healthy debate is all about.
I don't condone drink/drug driving, but the only reason I don't do it is because if I did have an accident then I would go down, not because I believe my driving is impaired enough to adversely affect my driving.
Whack! There is $1000 on the table that says I can drive from the valley to my home ( 10 min ) a thousand times after a pill and not have an accident. It is hard to believe but I know it is true. I wouldn't do it because of morals but it doesn't change statistical reality that the chance of any traffic incident is small.
Different story if I was so drunk I couldn't stand. The difference between a joint and being drunk is you can recover alot in an hour or 2 after a smoke compared to booze. Hell I think that that there is more of a danger from people with poor eyesight or the elderly who have the reflexes of a snail. I have driven in near monsoon rain with visibilty so bad that I would have been better off stoned. I survived not because of skill or luck but because I adjusted to the conditions and didn't take any risks.
I expect a few burns for these comments but that is what healthy debate is all about.
endlesseulogy
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2003
- Messages
- 2,831
^^What worries me about these laws is that they havn't even got any conclusive evidence that cannibus and amphetamine inhibit your driving. How can they inforce said law without and evidence to back up the hypothisis?
MDMA is another story. Personally, I have driven on an MDMA comedown. Never again. It would feel too good to fall asleep at the wheel. This isnt to say some people can pull it off no problems. I would avoid it at all costs anyway. This doesnt mean the cops should be charging people 1, 2 or 3 days after their roll.
I drive after smoking pot all the time. I find it does not inhibit my driving at all. Infact, most people comment on how smooth my driving becomes as I am normally quite an erratic driver. My car likes it when im stoned as I go easy on her. There is a fine line though. Too much smoke and things get a bit hairy. Would not even think of driving. However a few puffs of a joint and it makes driving a pleasure. No problems at all. If they are going to fine people with pot in their system they should atleast implement a legal limit system as is in place for alcohol. IE (0.5)
Another valid point. I know people who eat valium and other benzos before and while they are driving, which surely effect your reaction skills. No tests for these people.
MDMA is another story. Personally, I have driven on an MDMA comedown. Never again. It would feel too good to fall asleep at the wheel. This isnt to say some people can pull it off no problems. I would avoid it at all costs anyway. This doesnt mean the cops should be charging people 1, 2 or 3 days after their roll.
I drive after smoking pot all the time. I find it does not inhibit my driving at all. Infact, most people comment on how smooth my driving becomes as I am normally quite an erratic driver. My car likes it when im stoned as I go easy on her. There is a fine line though. Too much smoke and things get a bit hairy. Would not even think of driving. However a few puffs of a joint and it makes driving a pleasure. No problems at all. If they are going to fine people with pot in their system they should atleast implement a legal limit system as is in place for alcohol. IE (0.5)
Another valid point. I know people who eat valium and other benzos before and while they are driving, which surely effect your reaction skills. No tests for these people.
Miss Flea
Bluelighter
Good morning all ... from beautiful postcard-perfect Perth
A long time between visits. I trust everyone has had a fine start to summer?
After a rather large Friday night at Destination?/Ambar, I've spent the week post-loading with 5-HTP twice a day, and am very much enjoying the "positive-ness" infused into my REM (dreaming) stage of sleep. It makes for a quality sleep experience and I wake up feeling refreshed and ready for a new day.
Last night (in my dream) I knocked on the door of an afters-party, and the person who opened the door introduced himself as "The DQ". Having never met DQ in real life, I thought it was a timely reminder to revisit the website that started my love-affair with harm reduction in 1998.
It's awesome to be able to say with certainty that there really are people out there who understand the need for harm minimisation to be woven into "normal" life.
I believe that young people are making better choices – more intelligent choices - now more than ever before. Each wave of youth (Generation X, Y and the iGeneration) arrives on the scene armed with more information than their predecessors, and builds credibility amongst peers by being smarter about drugs and alcohol - not "turning away" from them (or being instructed to turn away from drugs).
I hope DQ's original story, and many of your own experiences along the way, have helped create the smartest generation in the history of western society, and I truly believe that "Just say no" has become "Just say KNOW".
It's been eight years since I discovered Bluelight, and my passion to change the world is still as strong as ever. Some of us "old skoolers" might not post anymore, but that doesn't mean we've given up the cause. For those who are interested to know, I've gone back to uni to major in Public Relations, with a post-grad in Addiction Studies. After graduating I hope to write promotional campaigns for non-profit organisations and help create drug policies for future governments.
If anyone is still in contact with The DQ, I would love to touch base with him. You can reach me on MSN/Hotmail or via MySpace.
May the spirit of Bluelight be with you this festive season.....
A long time between visits. I trust everyone has had a fine start to summer?
After a rather large Friday night at Destination?/Ambar, I've spent the week post-loading with 5-HTP twice a day, and am very much enjoying the "positive-ness" infused into my REM (dreaming) stage of sleep. It makes for a quality sleep experience and I wake up feeling refreshed and ready for a new day.
Last night (in my dream) I knocked on the door of an afters-party, and the person who opened the door introduced himself as "The DQ". Having never met DQ in real life, I thought it was a timely reminder to revisit the website that started my love-affair with harm reduction in 1998.
It's awesome to be able to say with certainty that there really are people out there who understand the need for harm minimisation to be woven into "normal" life.
I believe that young people are making better choices – more intelligent choices - now more than ever before. Each wave of youth (Generation X, Y and the iGeneration) arrives on the scene armed with more information than their predecessors, and builds credibility amongst peers by being smarter about drugs and alcohol - not "turning away" from them (or being instructed to turn away from drugs).
I hope DQ's original story, and many of your own experiences along the way, have helped create the smartest generation in the history of western society, and I truly believe that "Just say no" has become "Just say KNOW".
It's been eight years since I discovered Bluelight, and my passion to change the world is still as strong as ever. Some of us "old skoolers" might not post anymore, but that doesn't mean we've given up the cause. For those who are interested to know, I've gone back to uni to major in Public Relations, with a post-grad in Addiction Studies. After graduating I hope to write promotional campaigns for non-profit organisations and help create drug policies for future governments.
If anyone is still in contact with The DQ, I would love to touch base with him. You can reach me on MSN/Hotmail or via MySpace.
May the spirit of Bluelight be with you this festive season.....
Miss Flea
Bluelighter
Carbon Neutral
We took public transport, caught taxis AND rode our bikes to get from party-to-party around Perth on New Year's Eve. What a blast.
Safe and super party wishes to all : ]
We took public transport, caught taxis AND rode our bikes to get from party-to-party around Perth on New Year's Eve. What a blast.
Safe and super party wishes to all : ]
Miss Flea said:
Which brings up an interesting thing. I'm guessing it is also the same for riding a pushbike and showing a positive on drug roadside testing as riding a pushbike over 0.05 is same (as in fine $$$$?) as driving a car. At least in Victoria. Pretty sure I've read people have been done for riding pushbikes and being over 0.05 over the years. If I am mistaken then I can blame it being so close to NYE.
neverwas
Bluelighter
sux2 said:
The laws are indeed the same in regards to drink driving and driving on drugs when it comes to bikes etc (push bikes) It's a moving vehicle so I guess it's the same as driving a car apart from the lack of metal body around you.
Public Transports free NYE in melbs anyways which is great :D
shorza
Bluelighter
You can also lose you drivers license (if you have one) for being caught over 0.05 on a pushy.
Diego Blunt
Bluelighter
true you do get in shit for this and that is because somebody in a car could hit you ... but at least you are not putting others at risk and in all honesty, i think this is just another one of society's absurd laws that makes absolutely no sense ... i definately encourage people to ride a bike while intoxicated, as often public transport is genuinely not available and anything is better than driving while hammered.
cars are just fucken stupid ... i almost lost my sister and her best friend last month on the pacific highway - near taree ... while no drugs/alcohol were involved, they were so fucken lucky to survive and my sis's friend is now in a halo-traction.
stay safe fools.
cars are just fucken stupid ... i almost lost my sister and her best friend last month on the pacific highway - near taree ... while no drugs/alcohol were involved, they were so fucken lucky to survive and my sis's friend is now in a halo-traction.
stay safe fools.
m4dd0g
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2005
- Messages
- 3,663
I*starfalls69* said:
ubs this city. I should have scheduled more than 2 days here though.The 'but im funny and/or cool and it'll be right mate' defense doesnt make up for being a munted retard with other peoples lives in your hands
Ive a policy of (if reason fails) verbally abusing anyone who wants to drink/drug drive. On occasion ive shouted a cab fare just to stop the stupidity
Hell i may even save someones life one day ... thats a reasonable accomplishment even if i fuck everything else up
Diego Blunt said:
It can happen... http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/man-struck-by-cyclist-dies/2006/08/28/1156617253330.html
bustabraincell
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2006
- Messages
- 204
I think if you are about to drive home , dont sweat the small shit, do it in a high powered flamboyant convertabLE and make it look as though you meant to be there. drive fast home, get there safely, hide the car, but have someone straight do it for you DON'T DRIVE ON DRUGS!
katmeow
Bluelight Crew
B9
Bluelight Crew
This thread could well be a useful addition to many social forums on Bluelight.
Tragic reading but more effective for it!
Tragic reading but more effective for it!
neverwas
Bluelighter
bustabraincell said:
...i think its saying...you can still be cool in a car while under the influence but if youre going to get in a car make sure its a decent one and make sure the drivers straight...?
I could be wrong though...
