Theodore, my reaction times have nothing to do with it. If I'm sober chances are I'm fumbling with a CD player, reading a newspaper, smoking while eating a sandwich, having a conversation while looking at the passenger, or some other such. Or maybe all of them at the same time. If someone slams on their brakes in front of me..
We all fumble around with shit, and part of being a good driver is being able to do this stuff and keep on the road. However, good drivers know that it is what causes accidents and it is something you shouldn't do.
Same with driving high. And your reaction time has everything to do with driving, it is what makes or breaks an accident from happening.
If something happens that requires a sudden reaction like slamming on the brakes, I guarantee you most drivers, whether sober or high, tired or angry, are not going to have time to react even if their reaction time is 0ms because they're almost always driving too fast and too close to the rear of the car in front of them. People almost universally drive closer to the car ahead of them than their brakes are physically capable of stopping them before a collision.
Then they are bad drivers, plain and simple. You shouldn't be so close behind someone, it is always your fault if you hit them from behind. No matter how you cut it, you always were too close to the car in front of you.
You should know better, that driving under the influence can impair your ability to react to such rare, but critical, moments.
My point is simply this: Driving is dangerous. Driving while high slows reaction time ever so slightly - much less than alcohol or fatigue. Reaction time has almost no bearing on vehicle safety in the USA, because almost everyone drives too fast and too close to the vehicles in front of them. In the event of a sudden and complete stop, an accident almost always occurs. I fail to see any danger being introduced to the equation by being high.
Oh, so it is then okay to drive high?
Come on people, that is logically retarded. There are lots of things that can impair your ability to drive. A responsible driver knows they should avoid those things, and if they do do it (ie drive drunk, high, or angry) they should not rationalize their behavior, and know what they are doing is dangerous.
Every time I change CDs, I know I am putting myself at greater risk. I take necessary precautions like give more space, try to slow down if I can, et cetera. If you take this attitude, then you will never realize what you are doing is wrong until it is too late.
As far as shooting and raping people because it happens, I have no idea what you're talking about. I think you should own a gun and you should be able to use your dick. If you want to participate in risky behaviors, that's fine.
I used that example to point out how stupid and irresponsible this attitude is of "well lots of other things impair driving, so it's okay if I drive stoned". I understand. But logically, it is invalid.
People die all the time, might as well just kill someone since many people die.
People do things to impair their driving, it doesn't make a difference if I impair my driving either.
But I'm not hurting anybody by driving while high. You just think I'm elevating the risk of an accident, without offering any evidence as to the increased potential for disaster. If I was telling you I like to get high and crash into vehicles on purpose, then I'd understand what you're talking about.
Your a fool. Are you really going to change your outlook if you got in an accident high? I doubt it, you would just rationalize your behavior, probably say it was the other driver's fault or it was just a rare occasion.
Accidents are rare. But you put yourself, and others, at risk, when you drive impaired.
What your saying is completely irresponsible. You put everyone on the road at risk if you drive drunk, stoned, angry, tired, or overly-aggressive. That is why you shouldn't drive in such states.
While driving angry may not really be avoidable realistically, you can easily find a way to drive without being high. You should have a sense of responsibility to not be high before getting into a car, or just refrain from driving.
Come on man, driving high is not smart. Don't rationalize your behavior. If you drive high, fine, it happens. But don't make up excuses for it. You are doing something dumb, you put people at real risk.
Driving high is just not a good idea at all. Accidents are rare, but when you drive impaired it increases the chances of them happening, and one accident is one too many. You do not drive better high, it really does impair your driving. Just understand that what you are doing is wrong.
No matter how you cut it, driving high/drunk impairs your driving. You think it's okay because accidents are rare, but one accident is too many, and you may cause some serious problems in just one accident. It's stupid behavior to drive under the influence. And unlike being angry, you can avoid driving high simply by being responsible, and only getting high when you know you don't have to drive.
It's like getting enough sleep before work. You can get enough and all, but we all plan on getting the sleep we need before work, despite the fact we may be able to work tired. We all know working while tired is just hell.
THe problem with the driving situation is that you put people in danger.
I appreciate that you are keeping this discussion civil Coolio. I do mean to bust your balls, but I do not mean to come off as hostile or to flame you. I'm sure I am coming off that way, but I don't mean to. Thanks, and just realize I enjoi this discussion.
I disagree strongly with your attitude nonetheless though, and feel the only way to convey my meaning is sometimes with words that may come off as flames, so excuse me.