Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2014
Source: Northern News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Northern News
Contact: http://www.northernnews.ca/letters
Website: http://www.northernnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2315
Author: Rick Owen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

DRIVING 'HIGH' IS IMPAIRED DRIVING

KIRKLAND LAKE - With Canada Day fast approaching the Kirkland Lake 
Drug and Alcohol Awareness coalition is reminding people who drive or 
ride in motor vehicles that 'driving high is impaired driving.'

Last year KLDAAC in partnership with the Kirkland Lake Road Safety 
Coalition, the Timiskaming Road Safety Coalition and the Timiskaming 
Health Unit had one billboard put up on Highway 66 and one as you 
enter New Liskeard from the north, with the message that 'driving 
high is impaired driving'.

Statistics show that either riding in a vehicle where the driver has 
been drinking or using drugs or driving after smoking marijuana is a 
significant problem.

Statistic published by Partnership for a Drug Free Canada indicate 
that about 17.8 percent of students rode in a car with a driver who 
had been drinking, while 13.8 percent of students rode with a driver 
who had been using drugs, at least once in the past year.

As well 9.7 percent of students in Grade 9 to 12, with a G Licence 
reported driving a motor vehicle after using cannabis at least once 
in the past year. Male drivers were more likely to drive after 
smoking cannabis, with 13.5 reporting this behaviour, compared with 
5.8 percent for female drivers.

In terms of fatal collisions drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 
account for the most fatal crashes, and this group also accounts for 
the most drinking-driver failures (27.6 percent) and the most 
drug-positive driver fatalities (26.9 percent).

Statistics show of all the age groups, 15 to 25 year olds are the 
most likely to use drugs, making drugged driving a big issue for 
young drivers. One third, (32 percent), did not consider driving 
under the influence of cannabis to be as bad as driving under the 
influence of alcohol. Twenty-five percent of parents of teenagers did 
not consider driving while high on cannabis to be as bad as drinking 
and driving.

Nationally the Partnership for a Drug Free Canada has taken on the 
challenge of educating people about drugged driving and locally 
KLDAAC has also made this issue one of its priorities.

The OPP has recognized how drugged driving presents a safety problem 
for everyone in the community, and locally, as well as across the 
province the OPP has specially trained officers who conduct tests to 
determine if a person is impaired by drugs. Ontario courts recognize 
these tests as being accurate and a person who is found guilty of 
driving while under the influence of drugs faces the same penalties 
as a person found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom