Pubdate: Tue, 15 Nov 2016 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2016 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Page: A6 KEEP ROADS FREE FROM 'POT' HOLES With Canada preparing to venture down the road to legalized marijuana for recreational use, a majority of Canadians are concerned about the potential effect on the safety of the nation's roads. That's the suggestion from a new poll from the Canadian Automobile Association, which found that 63 per cent of Canadians are worried there will be a decrease in traffic safety after the drug is legalized. The Trudeau government has promised to table legislation by next spring to legalize recreational use of marijuana. A Canadian Press story in September reported that cannabis producers in Canada are ramping up operations in anticipation of that legislation. In the CAA poll, 26 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 believe a driver's competency remains the same or is better under the influence of marijuana. That runs counter to the findings of a study conducted by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, which found marijuana impairs the cognitive and motor abilities necessary to operate a motor vehicle and doubles the risk of crash involvement. "There are a lot of misconceptions out there that marijuana doesn't affect your driving, or even worse, it makes you a better driver," Jeff Walker, vice-president of public affairs, CAA National, said in a news release. "There need to be significant resources devoted to educating the public in the run-up to - and after - marijuana is legalized." The CAA isn't the only automobile association expressing concern about the effect of marijuana use on drivers. A study from the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety released in May showed that in Washington state, the percentage of drivers who had used marijuana within hours of a crash doubled between 2013 and 2014, following the state's legalization of pot in 2012. While marijuana supporters say the crash numbers aren't necessarily indicative of a causality link to pot use because of the lack of a definitive test for marijuana impairment, Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, noted in an article in The Washington Times, "The significant increase in fatal crashes involving marijuana is alarming. Washington serves as an eye-opening case study for what other states may experience with road safety after legalizing the drug." It should be an eye-opener for Canadian policy-makers, too, in advance of the move toward broader legalization of marijuana in this country. The CAA has been meeting with the federal government officials to urge funding for public education campaigns that debunk myths and educate all Canadians on the impacts marijuana has on driving. The organization is also seeking laws to discourage people from driving while under the influence of pot, and for resources to support law enforcement in dealing with the situation. In addition to the poll, the CAA commissioned a study looking at the priorities provincial and federal governments should focus on in the leadup to recreational marijuana legislation. The study, conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation and released Monday, found: * Public education is required well in advance of legislation. * It could take 18 to 24 months for provincial and territorial governments to implement drugged driving policy. * There are substantial cost implications associated with training police officers to recognize drugged driving, roadside devices and test analysis, data collection and public education initiatives. The full report is available at http://www.caa.ca/drugdriving If the legalization of marijuana for recreational use is going to take place in Canada, it had better be accompanied by the necessary policies to ensure Canadian roads don't become more dangerous. As we approach the Christmas season and the corresponding focus on discouraging impaired driving, it's important to make sure that next Christmas season isn't tainted by an increase in impaired driving of a different sort. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt