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Studies show that cannabis use by teenagers has increased throughout the 1990s. Furthermore current trends in use, availability, price and social tolerance indicate that its popularity will continue to increase in the future.

 

In Victoria, over recent years, up to 16% of drivers killed test positive to THC, which is the active part of cannabis.

 

Studies of drivers killed in road crashes by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, show that recent use of cannabis is associated with an increased risk of a fatal car crash similar to a BAC of 0.10 g/100 mL.

 

Unfortunately surveys show that the dangers of cannabis use and driving are not known. In fact teenagers have little concern about cannabis use either as a driver or a passenger.

 

Fatigue

Estimates of the percentage of crashes that are partially or completely attributable to fatigue range from approximately 30% of all crashes to  more than 50% of rural accidents.

 

Fatigue causes accidents because it  firstly impairs the mental functions needed for safe driving and as the tiredness increases then physical skills also are impaired. Young drivers, particularly males, are vulnerable to firstly microsleeps, and then falling fully asleep at the wheel. 

 

Although microsleeps start at only a few seconds, as tiredness increases they increase in both duration and frequency. With many body changes occurring due to maturation, young people need 8 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night.

 

Young drivers are subject to many lifestyle pressures such as working, studying, and socialising. These pressures can lead to a state of chronic tiredness, and the danger becomes extreme when they drive at times when the body is normally asleep, particularly between midnight and dawn.

 

Circadian Rhythms - The concept of 24 hour operations is relatively very recent. The human bodies evolution over 6 million years or more has resulted in physiological systems ( including our natural sleep/wake systems) that produce extreme sleepiness during late night/early morning and to a lesser extent in the mid-afternoon. The afternoon sleepiness can be intense for drivers who have a significant sleep debt.  

                                   

 

 Fatigue Driving = Drunk Driving

 

Sleepiness can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Driver impairment due to sleep related fatigue can be compared to driving with an alcohol impairment and studies

 

show that  17 hours without sleep is equal to the level of impairment that is associated with a blood alcohol

content of 0.05 per cent.

 

24 hours of sleep loss produces the same loss of performance as a very high blood alcohol content of 0.10 per cent. 

 

At this level of impairment the risks of a fatal crash are more that 8 times that of a sober non fatigued driver.

 

 

Details of Learning Resources

 

The Units each consist of a hard copy manual and an interactive CD Rom, all of which have been independently evaluated by both teachers and students. There are also other resources such as discussion videos, posters and brochures. Both Units were developed by Secondary Teachers, who have excellent practical and academic qualifications and experience

 

The units would involve 4 or 5 hours of teacher/student time (over  2 weeks) and feature self paced learning. They are ideally suitable for students undertaking VCE Health and Human Development and could also be used in the English or Legal Studies curriculum. Teachers may also find it appropriate to include them within CSF 11, particularly within the Health and Physical Education Key Learning Area level 6.

 

Students were fully involved at all stages of development. The design and graphics in the units reflect student choice and preference and evaluations have found that the students rate the material as very appropriate, unique and "fun".

 

The units are designed to provide a framework for students to explore some of the key issues associated with the use of cannabis and driving, fatigue and driving and to some extent, the issue of alcohol and driving.

 

They adopt a harm minimisation approach that is consistent with current State and Federal Government directives.

 

The cannabis unit uses a range of approaches to prevent and reduce drug-related harm, including prevention, early intervention, specialist treatment, supply control, safer drug use & abstinence. The learning activities include problem solving, discussion, group activities and the analysis of information.

 

Further Information

Additional details on the Interactive CD Roms and their associated hard copy materials can be obtained by Email from

info@sleepscience.com.au

Fatigue & Cannabis Learning Resources

Fatigue & Cannabis Learning Resources

The death rate of young drivers on the roads is more than double that of other drivers, and 2 major factors associated with these deaths are Cannabis and Fatigue.

Cannabis

creates extremes of opinion from support for legalisation to total prohibition. The debate is clouded by false information and myths about its use.

 

However recent studies throughout the world have highlighted the serious risks associated with cannabis and driving, especially for young drivers.

Reality is that cannabis is the most frequently used illicit drug in Australia with 40% of the population reporting its use.

Teenagers are at greatest risk and cannabis use is very high amongst those aged 16 to 17 with up to 47% reporting use in the last year.