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.
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MAP posted-by: Matt