How does cannabis affect road safety?
Transportation experts discuss
The German government plans to allow the controlled distribution of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes before the end of the current legislative period. This has sparked a debate about the impact of cannabis use on road safety.
„The main question is how raising the current limit for the active ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), from 1 nanogram per milliliter of blood serum to around 3 nanograms or more should be assessed in terms of road safety,“ explains Thomas Wagner, head of the officially recognized assessment center for driving aptitude (BfF) at DEKRA.
However, the expert warns against misunderstandings about the current legal situation.
If a driver takes cannabis use currently at road traffic participates and is subjected to a test, this currently leads to equally drastic consequences with a THC content of one nanogram. penalties as when driving Alcohol from 0.5 per mille: Even the first offense carries the threat of 500 euro fine, two points in the traffic offender registry and one-month driving ban.
Unlike with alcohol abuse, those affected can expect to undergo a medical-psychological examination (MPU) after their first drug-related traffic offense.
Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Europe, consumed daily or almost daily by around one percent of adults in the EU. Its active ingredient, THC, has a psychoactive effect on the entire nervous system and, according to studies, affects important skills for driving safety, including concentration, memory, perception of time and space, motor control, reaction time, and attention. The driving uncertainties observed relate to lane keeping, speed control, right of way rules, and prolonged reaction times.
International studies indicate that cannabis use increases the risk of road traffic accidents, ranging from a slight to moderate risk. Even though not all figures show a statistically significant increase in risk, Wagner fears that raising the limit to 3 ng/ml will also have negative consequences for road safety in this country.
Text and image credits: Dekra
