Pubdate: Sat, 03 Sep 2005
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Beth Blackburn
Note: Beth Blackburn is with the RCMP's drug awareness program
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

DRUG-IMPAIRED DRIVERS A DANGER TO EVERYONE

MADD Canada announced an awareness campaign to address the impaired
driving by smoking marijuana. The campaign is called If you're 'high'
you can't drive.

For years MADD Canada has focused on the messaging that "If you drink
don't drive."

We have a long way to go before my colleagues in emergency services
will attend their last alcohol impaired driving crash or fatality.

In the past few years there have been strong prevention messaging
aimed at students on alcohol impaired driving.

We have over all seen a reduction in the number of impaired driving
cases, still if even one person dies or is injured on our roadways, it
is one too many.

In B.C. with the introduction of the graduated licensing program, new
drivers have restrictions on their driving privileges. One of these
restrictions is a zero BAC - blood alcohol concentration - while
operating a motor vehicle.

In order to comply with the "no alcohol" restriction some new drivers
feel that this is an open door to ingest other drugs and drive. This
is simply not true and a false sense of security.

The act is impaired driving is impaired driving regardless what the
substance/drug is that is causing that impairment. Marijuana does
impair your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

How does marijuana cause impairment?

Marijuana slows your reaction time and distance perceptions. It reacts
with very fine motor skills and affects your ability to concentrate on
driving.

Driving a vehicle is multi-tasking - doing several different tasks at
one time. As a driver you must be alert to avoid hazards that may
arise when you are driving down the road.

Marijuana impairs your ability to driver a motor vehicle safely.

Police officers are trained in the detection of impaired drivers and
legally can suspend your driving privileges if they have grounds to
believe that you are impaired and driving.

Under Section 215 Motor Vehicle Act an officer who has grounds to
believe that your ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired by
marijuana can suspend your driver license for a period of 24 hours.

The police officer also has the authority to impound your
vehicle.

If you are a new driver then the consequences could be worse because
the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles will review your license and have
been known to suspend driving privileges for a further 30 days.

Drug-impaired drivers are dangerous on our roadways and this school
year I will be in the schools spreading the message that "If you're
'high' you can't drive."

Beth Blackburn is with the RCMP's drug awareness program.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin