# If you saw someone smoking pot while driving, would you do anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 28, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214 "2013-03-28T20:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/1 "2013-03-28T20:58:48Z")
I was waiting behind a car to enter a fairly busy, divided, 4-lane this afternoon and I noticed the driver of the car taking a hit off a pot pipe. (Yes, I’m sure.) He was pretty young and had a female passenger. He pulled out when it was safe and I proceeded on my way. I briefly thought about calling 311 and reporting him, thinking about the safety of other people, but I didn’t. I have no idea if he was impaired, but I feel the same way about high-driving as drunk-driving. Looking back, I think I should have called. Would you have reported him? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/2 "2013-03-28T21:12:55Z")
no stop snitching ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/3 "2013-03-28T21:47:45Z")
Would you have reported him if he’d been drinking beer? Talking on a cell phone where forbidden? I’ve no cite but anecdotal data that boozy drivers are much more dangerous than potty drivers. (Question: Is there a standard for comparing intoxication levels for these two very different intoxicants?) ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/4 "2013-03-28T21:50:06Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > no > > stop snitching Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/5 "2013-03-28T22:06:09Z")
I’d probably call 911, same as I have for obviously drunk drivers. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/6 "2013-03-28T22:21:12Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’d probably call 911, same as I have for obviously drunk drivers. Like the cops are gonna show. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/7 "2013-03-28T22:22:59Z")
Wave him down, get him to pull over, and ask him if I can have a hit? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/8 "2013-03-29T00:15:06Z")
I recently saw a study that showed that high drivers are more careful and drive safer than sober drivers (proving the common joke/meme true). One way I hear it put, and can confirm anecdotally, is that stoned people know when they’re too high to drive, unlike drunks who think they’re fine to drive when they’re clearly not. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/9 "2013-03-29T00:25:24Z")
I would have reported it. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/10 "2013-03-29T00:25:33Z")
I think the problem might be handling a pipe, packing a bowl, and so on while driving. The driver in that case was way too busy and distracted. If someone was just smoking a joint, I’d probably just figure it was a short or hand rolled cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/11 "2013-03-29T00:38:35Z")
Ask for the phone number of their dealer. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/12 "2013-03-29T00:51:57Z")
I’ve smelled pot many times from other cars at red lights. I never knew for sure who was inhaling. I wouldn’t call 911 unless a car was obviously weaving in traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/13 "2013-03-29T01:01:36Z")
I’d stop looking in the mirror and pay attention to the road. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/14 "2013-03-29T01:06:06Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’d stop looking in the mirror and pay attention to the road. Read for comprehension. I was behind the car in question AND stopped, waiting for him to pull into traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/15 "2013-03-29T01:08:20Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Like the cops are gonna show. Yeah, they will. I’ve called in drunk drivers several times, and either seen the cops respond or read about the arrest in the papers. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/16 "2013-03-29T01:14:29Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Read for comprehension. I was behind the car in question AND stopped, waiting for him to pull into traffic. LOL. Chill out. I should have put the title to your OP in the heading to my post. My response was an answer to the question posed there. “If you saw someone smoking pot while driving, would you do anything?” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/17 "2013-03-29T01:15:47Z")
Only if it was a cop. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/18 "2013-03-29T01:18:15Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I recently saw a study that showed that high drivers are more careful and drive safer than sober drivers (proving the common joke/meme true). One way I hear it put, and can confirm anecdotally, is that stoned people know when they’re too high to drive, unlike drunks who think they’re fine to drive when they’re clearly not. [Sadly, not so much.](http://www.bmj.com/press-releases/2012/02/09/acute-cannabis-consumption-and-motor-vehicle-collision-risk) > [@](#): > > Drivers who consume cannabis within three hours of driving are nearly twice as likely to cause a vehicle collision as those who are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol claims a paper published today on [bmj.com](http://bmj.com). > > The paper’s authors, from Dalhousie University, reviewed nine studies with a total sample of 49,411 people to determine whether the consumption of cannabis increases the risk of a motor vehicle collision. It seems to be a common perception among pot-smokers that mild marijuana intoxication does not result in driving impairment. As far as I know, research does not back them up on this. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/19 "2013-03-29T01:19:52Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I recently saw a study that showed that high drivers are more careful and drive safer than sober drivers (proving the common joke/meme true). Was it [this](http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/this-is-what-driving-totally-stoned-on-marijuana-looks-like/) (video, CNN report)? If memory serves, I can confirm these results. Lots and lots of very safe drives to 7-11. Um, I mean, that’s what I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/20 "2013-03-29T01:23:50Z")
Nope. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214.md?page=2)