DETER DOPEY DRIVERS

It's hard to believe that smoking marijuana would not have a
detrimental effect on someone's ability to drive.

Just as it's hard not to believe that any number of activities --
from talking on a cellphone to chatting with a passenger to fiddling
with the ever-increasing array of buttons in our cars -- distract
drivers from their main task.

Which is, we would argue, not only getting where they want to go, but
getting there safely and within the law.

While many of us would undoubtedly like to see cellphone yakking
cracked down on, it's even more of a no-brainer when it comes to
helping the police deal with drivers suspected of smoking pot before
getting behind the wheel.

If passed, new legislation introduced by the Conservative government
will make it easier for police to identify drivers who are under the
influence of drugs.

Currently, blood and urine samples, which are vital in leading to a
conviction, are only provided on a voluntary basis.

Sgt. Rick Lavigne of the Ottawa police told the Sun that a push by
the previous Liberal government to legalize small quantities of
marijuana would have only complicated things.

"If they're going to legalize any amount of marijuana, they have to
give us the tools to manage it," he said.

Excellent point, especially considering that current sobriety tests
conducted by the RIDE program are the same for alcohol as they are for drugs.

"We cannot detect cannabis using a breathalyzer," says Dr. Doug
Beirness, a senior researcher with the Canadian Centre on Substance
Abuse, "and at this point there is nothing comparable for cannabis."

The stats are troubling.. According to the CCSA, the number of
drivers who smoke pot before getting behind the wheel has doubled in
Canada since 1989. Other stats suggest 20% to 30% of youths admit to
toking before putting pedal to metal.

Still other reports show that youth don't believe that toking affects
their ability to drive -- and it certainly isn't as likely that
they'll get busted as with drinking and driving.

While the CCSA was unable to determine the impact its findings had on
crash-related death and injury, we'd have to agree with its
description of the trend as "disturbing."

Seems like some good old-fashioned public education might be in
order, backed up by some real help for the police, who sadly see the
tragic results of distracted, drunken or doped-up driving each day.