DRIVING WHILE STONED ON THE RISE, STUDY SHOWS

Roadside Tests Show Drinking While Driving Is Falling, But More
Drivers Are Using Drugs

VANCOUVER -- Drinking and driving is on the decline in B.C., but more
people are driving while stoned on drugs, according to tests done in
June. The study of 1,500 drivers was conducted during four nights in
Vancouver, Abbotsford and Saanich. The preliminary results were
released yesterday by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA).

It reports that 16.9 per cent of the drivers tested positive for drugs
and/or alcohol, 10.4 per cent had used drugs, while 8.1 per cent had
been drinking.

Drivers were pulled over by police and tested by the research teams.
There were two teams of about seven people each. The drivers were told
there was no risk of arrest, that it was voluntary and anonymous, and
were given a $25 coupon for gasoline.

The teams conducted breath tests for alcohol and saliva tests for
drugs. The drug samples were then sent to a laboratory. There is no
convenient roadside drug analysis.

"The good news is that drinking and driving appeared to be on the
decline," reported Doug Beirness, Senior Research and Policy Analyst
at the CCSA and lead researcher for this survey.

People between the ages of 16 and 18 showed no signs of alcohol use
but a small portion tested positive for drug use. "People still don't
think the use of drugs impairs their ability to drive a car," Mr.
Beirness said in the report.

This indicates to Mr. Beirness that young people, "may not know or
understand the risks associated with drugs and driving."

This was the fifth study examining alcohol use among drivers in B.C.
and one of the first to look at the use of alcohol and drugs among
drivers in Canada.

The CCSA wanted a benchmark figure before new legislation passed in
July gives Canadian police more power when conducting roadside drug
and alcohol tests. Previously, drivers could only be forced to agree
to a breathalyzer test when pulled over by police.

Now it is mandatory for drivers to perform the standard field sobriety
test that includes the walk and turn, the one leg stand and the
horizontal eye movement study. Officers can also now send a driver to
the police station for a complete drug evaluation including the
collection of blood, saliva and/or urine.

The 2008, CCSA Roadside Survey cost $300,000 and was sponsored by the
BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation, the B.C. Superintendent of Motor
Vehicles, the Police Services of B.C., Public Safety Canada, Transport
Canada and the RCMP.