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. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin