Drivers and Drugs

Yesterday was the second time in recent weeks I had the dubious pleasure of finding myself close to a car at a red light with the unmistakably pungent smell of weed wafting out of the car's windows. OK, in normal circumstances smoking marijuana should be no big deal, but I would say that being under the influence while driving is every bit as dangerous, if not more, as driving under the influence of alcohol. And as for smoking it while actually driving (yesterday I actually saw the driver pass the spliff to his passenger)? I mean, WTF?

My first reaction in both cases was to call the cops, but I carry my cellphone in my backpack and yesterday I was running late. So the questions are: 

1. If I did call the cops, would they pursue the issue? I memorized the license plate number the second time.

2. Do other chainlinkers encounter similar situations?

3. What do other chainlinkers think about the drugs and driving issue?

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 14, 2011 at 3:06am

The world's population is a slding scale of abilities and impairments.  The concept of "all Men are created Equal" is a nice philosophical lilly pad to leap off from but doesn't have any scientific basis.

 

There are some people who are just more capable than others, and some people who are more easily impaired than others.   And some people that shouldn't be let out of their house without being wrapped in protective bubbles and adult supervision regardless of what they are on -or not on. 

Permalink Reply by Liz on June 14, 2011 at 3:25am

The problem with this logic is the the majority of people overestimate thier skill level. 80-90% of people believe they are better than average drivers, not all of them are right.  

 

Dunning–Kruger effect
"The unskilled therefore suffer from illusory superiority, rating their ability as above average, much higher than it actually is, while the highly skilled underrate their own abilities, suffering from illusory inferiority. Actual competence may weaken self-confidence, as competent individuals may falsely assume that others have an equivalent understanding."


James Baum said:

The world's population is a slding scale of abilities and impairments.  The concept of "all Men are created Equal" is a nice philosophical lilly pad to leap off from but doesn't have any scientific basis.

 

There are some people who are just more capable than others, and some people who are more easily impaired than others.   And some people that shouldn't be let out of their house without being wrapped in protective bubbles and adult supervision regardless of what they are on -or not on. 

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 14, 2011 at 3:39am

IMO

Stoners driving is a much smaller problem than drivers on prescribed Rx who shouldn't be behind the wheel.  I believe the Rx population is much larger than the stoners and that they are less likely to realize the full effect of how their Rx impairs them.

 

Ride Aware!

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 14, 2011 at 4:18am

Illusory superiority is indeed a problem.  We have to go back to science and statistics again.  Mile for mile/accident for accident is one way of measuring capabilities.  Another way is competitive events that push skill levels to and beyond the breaking point -race after race, season after season.  Those that do well and advance in their competitive classes to expert-level (or even semi/pro) might not be quite so illusory.  

 

Self-honesty and mindfullness are  difficult things for most people.  If you don't have these you don't even know you are missing them.  But it is hard to argue with results and hard figures.  Regional-level trophies/championships in various types of motorized off-road racing or  Hundreds of thousands of  road miles and decades of documented accident-free operation speak for themselves I think.   So do those incidents/accidents that speak volumes to the counterpoint for some of the people who aren't quite so skilled.  


Liz said:

The problem with this logic is the the majority of people overestimate thier skill level. 80-90% of people believe they are better than average drivers, not all of them are right.  

 

Dunning–Kruger effect
"The unskilled therefore suffer from illusory superiority, rating their ability as above average, much higher than it actually is, while the highly skilled underrate their own abilities, suffering from illusory inferiority. Actual competence may weaken self-confidence, as competent individuals may falsely assume that others have an equivalent understanding."


James Baum said:

The world's population is a slding scale of abilities and impairments.  The concept of "all Men are created Equal" is a nice philosophical lilly pad to leap off from but doesn't have any scientific basis.

 

There are some people who are just more capable than others, and some people who are more easily impaired than others.   And some people that shouldn't be let out of their house without being wrapped in protective bubbles and adult supervision regardless of what they are on -or not on. 

Permalink Reply by Jason W on June 14, 2011 at 6:31am
Interesting link!

Liz said:

The problem with this logic is the the majority of people overestimate thier skill level. 80-90% of people believe they are better than average drivers, not all of them are right.  

 

Dunning–Kruger effect
"The unskilled therefore suffer from illusory superiority, rating their ability as above average, much higher than it actually is, while the highly skilled underrate their own abilities, suffering from illusory inferiority. Actual competence may weaken self-confidence, as competent individuals may falsely assume that others have an equivalent understanding."

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on June 14, 2011 at 7:38am
Did you see this in today's (Tuesday) Sun Times: Oops
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 15, 2011 at 4:03pm
which is why it is illegal to drink and drive at .08; some folks probably could but others can't and you have to have a law that is the same for everyone.  Same goes for the weed.

James Baum said:

The world's population is a slding scale of abilities and impairments.  The concept of "all Men are created Equal" is a nice philosophical lilly pad to leap off from but doesn't have any scientific basis.

 

There are some people who are just more capable than others, and some people who are more easily impaired than others.   And some people that shouldn't be let out of their house without being wrapped in protective bubbles and adult supervision regardless of what they are on -or not on. 

Permalink Reply by Bike Bloke on June 15, 2011 at 5:20pm

Thanks for all the replies - they made for an interesting discussion. Having thought long and hard about this, I should have gone with my first instinct and called 911. Two reasons why:

1. I have just read about yet another cyclist killed by a hit and run driver. What's the connection? Well, I think it's not too much of a stretch to speculate that an impaired driver is far more likely to 'hit and run' than an unimpaired driver. This, partly because s/he is impaired and will have to answer to the police for that as well as the accident, and partly because folks who do illegal stuff in the first place are far more likely to flout other laws, too (IMHO). The guy I saw last week could be tomorrow's hit and run. I shudder to think about it....

2. I happened to be speaking to a cop a couple of days after and mentioned the weed-smoking driver to him. His response was unequivocal: yes, I should have reported it, and yes they would have checked out the vehicle owner.

I've nothing against drug users. It's their issue, but when they drive under the influence, it becomes everyone else's issue too, and they should not imagine that it's OK or somehow less of a danger than alcohol impairment.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on June 16, 2011 at 2:00am
I read that. As you know drug users may not be the brightest people around. LOL!

Michael J Blane said:
Did you see this in today's (Tuesday) Sun Times: Oops

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