POT STUDY BLOWS SMOKE ON SAFETY OF PUFFING DRIVERS

Don't Toke And Drive!

That's what local experts are warning despite a recently released British
study that concludes regular marijuana users are more cautious, safer
drivers after smoking a joint or two.

"I'm not a specialist on the medical line but, personally, I would not
agree with that statement," said Navid Chaudry, chief instructor with the
Alberta Motor Association, who for the past decade has taught driving
courses to people who have lost their licence for driving while impaired.

"When we teach driving courses, we teach 'no drugs, no alcohol' and don't
combine the two. We teach that one joint and one alcoholic drink is
equivalent to 2 drinks. That shows marijuana is a drug and a mind stimulant
and does impair a person."

The government study, conducted by Britain's Transport Research Laboratory,
found that marijuana makes drivers more mellow and less likely to drive
dangerously.

The four-week study followed 15 pot users who were given top-grade
marijuana from the United States to use, then tested on simulators to
determine their reaction levels.

The study had been expected to show driving under the influence of drugs
was as dangerous as drunk driving, and the conclusion left the government
red-faced.

Still, there is skepticism.

"My best gut feeling is no, I think they're under the influence," said Tony
Pike, president of the Calgary chapter of People Against Impaired Driving
(PAID).

"Maybe they do drive more cautious, but more cautious can also be more
dangerous if they're driving way below the speed limit."

Pike said, however, that while .08 has been established as the legal level
in which a driver is impaired on alcohol, it is unclear as to the amount of
marijuana it takes to get one impaired.

Calgary police would not comment specifically on the study because nobody
in the traffic unit has seen it.

Sgt. Steve Patterson, in charge of traffic education's alcohol unit, noted
the Criminal Code clearly indicates someone impaired by alcohol or drugs
can be charged with impaired driving, and the same criteria are used to
determine impairment for both drugs or alcohol.

"The investigating officer will first look for poor driving skills," said
Patterson.

"Then, after the driver is stopped, the officer will look for indicators of
excessive alcohol or drug use in determining the issue of substantiating
charges."

The study noted that driving while high on drugs -- including marijuana --
is not as safe as driving while sober, even though drivers may recognize
they are high and are more cautious.

Other studies have shown that many drivers impaired by alcohol drive faster
and more aggressively.