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27-year-old under the influence of cannabis: Police stop dangerous driver
A 27-year-old in Bottrop ignores red lights while under the influence of cannabis; Concerned about road safety after legalization.
27-year-old under the influence of cannabis: Police stop dangerous driver
On Friday evening, June 20th, the police stopped a 27-year-old driver on the A31 motorway in the Bottrop area. The Duisburg resident was driving under the influence of cannabis, which led to risky behavior behind the wheel. According to reports from Lokalkompass.de The man ignored two red lights and drove over the speed limit several times before the officers stopped him.
An attentive witness noticed the dangerous driving behavior and informed the police. During the check it became clear that the 27-year-old had abnormal pupils. This prompted police officers to offer a voluntary drug pre-test, which came back positive for cannabis. A blood sample was then taken at the police station to determine the exact THC content.
Effects of cannabis legalization
Since April 1, 2024, the possession and consumption of cannabis has been legal for adults under certain conditions. But this legalization brings with it concerns, especially in the area of road safety. According to a survey, 64% to 73% of the population expect negative consequences for road safety. downvomgas.de reports that the number of accidents under the influence of drugs has already increased in 2024. One populous region saw an 11.5% increase in drug-influenced accidents.
Over 40% of reported cases involved cannabis and unfortunately ten people died in accidents under the influence of drugs. The Bavarian police authorities were alarmed by the development and warned of the dangers posed by driving under the influence of cannabis.
Future actions
The police authorities plan to intensify controls to increase road safety. From July 2025, uniform nationwide statistics on the influence of cannabis on road traffic will be collected. To date, not all areas record the causes of accidents by type of substance, which makes it difficult to assess the situation. The German Road Safety Council is therefore calling for faster and more comprehensive recording of such accidents.
A uniform limit of 3.5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood serum should apply to all road users, while novice drivers and those under 21 will continue to have an absolute ban on cannabis behind the wheel. Already in 2023, 48 people across the country died in traffic accidents under the influence of drugs. The #mehrAktion initiative draws attention to the risks of cannabis in road traffic and aims to raise awareness of this explosive topic.
It remains to be seen how the current developments surrounding cannabis legalization will affect road safety. The excitement surrounding this incident in Bottrop could be a sign of the challenges that society has to overcome when it comes to this issue.