02 Dec 05 16:42
Dope-smoking drivers are nearly twice as likely to have a fatal road crash, according to research from the French National Institute for Transport and Safety.
The study examined information on nearly 10,750 drivers who were involved in fatal crashes between October 2001 and September 2003. Nearly 2,100 of these (21.4%) had tested positive for alcohol and 680 (7%) were tested positive for cannabis, with 285 (2.9%) positive for both.
Compared to a control group, the doped-up drivers were judged to be at double the risk of a fatal accident with low concentrations of cannabis in their bloodstream, the risk tripling at higher levels. However, the researchers concluded that alcohol was still a greater risk factor, with drink-driving accounting for 29% of fatal accidents in France compared to drugged-up driving (2.5%), despite the proportions of drink-drivers and dope-smokers being closer. (The Times)
