DRUG IMPAIRMENT IS ON THE RISE

The BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation is reminding drivers not to crash
the party this holiday season by driving while impaired - and that
means drugs, too.

While alcohol is still the leading cause of impairment when it comes to
driving offences of this kind, drug impairment is on the rise. A report
released last year by The Road Safety Monitor: Drugs and Driving found among
other things that an estimated 520,000 Canadians drove after using marijuana
or hashish in the previous year.

According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, young males are
driving under the influence of cannabis as often as, or more often,
than they drive under the influence of alcohol.

"Most drivers have fortunately changed their attitudes toward drinking
and driving, but there appears to be a lack of education toward drugs
and driving," states Allan Lamb, executive director for the BCAA
Traffic Safety Foundation.

"Impaired drivers kill two people every week on B.C. roads, and I
suspect many of these drivers are impaired by a drug other than
alcohol," said Lamb.

While tests show that alcohol consumption results in more aggressive
driving behaviours like speeding, drivers who use cannabis are more
likely to drive slowly, are less alert, have problems with
time/distance perception, and exhibit latent braking tendencies - all
of which are extremely dangerous driving behaviours in themselves.

Impaired driving is not just about alcohol and illicit drugs according
to Cpl. Dave Savoy, drug recognition expert for the Surrey RCMP.
"Prescription tranquilizers and narcotics can have adverse effects on
co-ordination and reaction time if not taken accordingly."

Savoy adds that "people may think that marijuana and prescription
medications have a lesser effect on their ability to operate a motor
vehicle safely. The truth is when prescription drugs are not taken
accordingly they are just as, if not more, dangerous than illegal
drugs. Depending on the individual, some prescription drugs when
abused can have the same outward results as someone who is very
intoxicated - sluggish movements and slurred speech, for example.

"The person's ability to operate a motor vehicle will more than likely
be impaired by the prescription drugs that they are abusing.

"This is easy to see because when someone is taking a prescription and
they are not getting the desired effect or pain relief from the dosage
that is prescribed, they then increase the dosage on their own accord,
when the body feels that this dosage is not enough they increase it
again and so on, until without realizing it they are taking an
impairing level of the prescription medication, and then getting
behind the wheel of a car. A deadly combination."

Driving is impaired when the ability to do so is affected by any
substance or condition that changes the mood or perception of reality
of the driver. Alcohol or drugs, illicit or prescription, and even
fatigue and stress will impair your driving. A combination of any or
all of these things can be deadly.

Time is the only thing that reduces the effects of drugs and
alcohol.

The BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation is asking partygoers not to get
behind the wheel if they have consumed alcohol or drugs.