Smoking weed while driving

[BrilliantBetty]

Out for a walk with a friend today. Lovely sunny day here.

We could smell weed, it was really strong. Guy in a large range rover smoking a big spliff, music blaring, right through the middle of the quiet town most of it is pedestrianised, no other cars about. He was possibly going a bit faster than he should have been.

Anyway my friend called the police and reported him using drugs at the wheel. While I don't think she was wrong, I was surprised that she actually called the police. I suppose it is illegal but it isn't uncommon to smell / spot someone driving around smoking weed here.

Was my friend R or U?

He’s driving under the influence and a risk to other road users. No different to someone drinking a beer behind the wheel. Your friend was definitely right to call. Can you imagine if she hadn’t and then that man hit someone?

What? No she wasn't unreasonable. It's illegal because it's dangerous.

I'm concerned it's not an uncommon sight! Yabu

I don’t think your friend was unreasonable, unfortunately round here it just isn’t seen the same as drinking behind the wheel and the police do nothing. It’s rife!

If it had been alcohol would your view be the same?

Goodness! She was NBU. It’s illegal as it impairs the driver’s ability to drive safely.

Would you think she was unreasonable if the driver killed someone?

Good on her. I doubt anything will come of it though.

As I said, I don't think she was wrong, I was just surprised. It's such a common thing, to smell a car go past stinking of weed but I've never once witnessed anyone else call the police.

WTF? Of course it is illegal. And in an urban area there is less likely to be a tree that will deal with the problem as it should be dealt with. This skank is a danger to everyone else, not that bothered if he kills himself.

A lot of these types are above buying insurance, tax and an MoT - the police in north Wales catch a lot of them and crush the cars. You would think someone driving illegally would not draw attention to themselves, but they aren't the smartest.

I had an ex who crashed his car after/while smoking a splif, an idiotic thing to do, it was good that she reported him IMO.

Good for her. More people need to do the same. Eventually the police will catch them if they know details.

Your friend WNBU. Good for her.

Here in Europe if you get stopped driving and they do a saliva test for canabis it's a 6 month ban, 6 points and a €1000 fine.

I can't say I've ever noticed a car go past stinking of weed. But I don't see it as being any better than drink driving.

Don't you report drivers under the influence?

I applaud your friend for doing so.

I wish more people were like your friend. There are reasons it's illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

I'd never call the police for a group sitting around in a park smoking weed (there are many, where we live), but much more likely to do it for someone driving.

Er, no - your friend did the right thing

I did this many moons ago straight into a checkpoint.

I live in Los Angeles where marijuana is legal both medicinally and recreationally. However it's considered dangerous and illegal to drive while smoking/high. If I saw someone smoking while driving, I would call the police, in the same way I would call the police if I saw someone drinking a beer while driving.

Yesterday a 17 year old on the Isle of Wight had to be airlifted to hospital after someone crashed into his motorbike. The driver has been charged with drug driving. I wish more people did what your friend did.

Here in Bristol weed may as well be legal as people pretty much smoke it openly in public. Absolutely no issue from me as I enjoy it regularly myself.

Driving while toking though - absolutely not. Again, not uncommon here, the worst I have seen was following a car with two young (early 20’s) women with a young child in a car seat in the back, both blatantly smoking joints with the car surrounded by smoke.

The only positive is that I would far rather someone drove stoned instead of pissed, but that’s like saying I’d rather be stabbed than shot. Driving requires full use of your facilities.

Good on her. If more people did this and police take action these selfish arseholes might be off the roads.