MORE FOCUS NEEDED ON MARIJUANA AND DRIVING

The Canadian Public Health Association has launched a Pot and Driving
Campaign to raise awareness among young Canadian drivers and
passengers of the risks of cannabis-impaired driving.

Why a pot and driving focus?

Canadians between the ages of 14 to 25 have one of the highest rates
of pot use in the world. Many young Canadians who use pot see it as
mild, mainstream drug with no significant negative
consequences.

And while most young drivers and passengers have little tolerance for
alcohol-related driving, they commonly regard pot and driving as risk
free.

Recent research on pot is showing that it can play an important role
in road vehicle crashes, especially when combined with driver
inexperience and difficult road conditions.

Road accidents are often the result of a combination of factors and
pot can be one of them.

Pot is the most popular drug used by Canadians 14 to 25 years of age,
after alcohol and tobacco. Drug-use surveys indicate that the rate of
driving under the influence of pot surpasses that of alcohol. Through
awareness programs like designated drivers and drinking and driving
campaigns at local schools the message is out there not to drink
alcohol and drive.

It is now time to focus on pot.

Pot impairs your ability to operate a vehicle safely.

The B.C. Motor Vehicle Act has enacted changes over the past 10 years
to combat the issue of driving while under the influence of drugs.

A 24-hour roadside prohibition can be issued by a police officer if
they have reasonable grounds that you are impaired by drugs or
alcohol. The vehicle you are driving may also be impounded (at your
expense) for a period of up to 24 hours.

If you are driving a vehicle and you have restrictions on your
driver's license (Class 7 L or N) and you are issued with a 24-hour
prohibition from driving for drugs, the Superintendent of Motor
Vehicles, who is responsible for issuing driving privileges in the
province, will in all likelihood impose a further suspension of 30
days on your driving privileges.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, you can be charged criminally with
impaired driving.

In early 2005, MADD Canada released a video Not Ready to Go, it is an
accurate and emotional portrayal of the tragic consequences of drug
impaired driving.