Pubdate: Fri, 10 Apr 2015
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Blair Qualey
Page: D6

MARIJUANA USE BY MOTORISTS A GROWING PERIL

A lot of attention has been paid in recent years to the potentially
deadly impact of drunk and distracted driving - and rightly so. They
are among the leading causes of car crash deaths in our province.

But there's another dangerous driving habit that's starting to gain
more interest: Driving under the influence of marijuana.

It's no secret that the use of marijuana is increasing in society.
Some people use it legally to help treat symptoms associated with a
wide range of serious illnesses. There are also those people who use
it recreationally and sometimes alongside alcohol and other drugs.

Regardless of how or why someone uses it, marijuana and driving don't
mix. Studies have shown that marijuana use can impair a driver's
judgment. It can affect co-ordination and concentration behind the
wheel and slow reaction time, which can lead to accidents.

Experts say marijuana use can also make it difficult for drivers to
properly judge distances around them and react to signals and sounds
on the road. These are all skills necessary to safely operate a vehicle.

What's more, studies show effects of the drug can last for at least
four to six hours after smoking a single joint.

In 2004, data from the Canadian Addiction Survey showed that 4.8 per
cent of drivers in Canada admitted driving within two hours of using
cannabis, which is more than double the 2.3 per cent of drivers who
gave the same response in a similar study 15 years earlier.

A separate 2008 survey roadside survey, which collected oral fluid and
breath samples from a random sample of nighttime drivers in B.C., also
found that 4.6 per cent tested positive for cannabis.

With the use of marijuana on the rise in Canada, one might conclude
that the number of drivers using it might also be on the rise. What's
more, many marijuana users don't believe the drug impairs their
driving ability.

Police don't have the same technology and resources to detect people
driving under the influence of drugs such as marijuana - at least not
yet.

A former B.C. RCMP officer has co-invented a marijuana breathalyzer to
help catch drivers who "drug and drive." The Cannabix Marijuana
Breathalyzer, developed by Cannabix Technologies, said the
breathalyzer is in trial testing for use by law enforcement.

Cannabix president Kal Malhi, who worked in the RCMP's drug
enforcement division, told Postmedia News last year that many drivers
aren't afraid of driving after smoking marijuana, convinced they can't
get caught. His device claims to indicate whether a person has
consumed marijuana in the last two hours.

Regardless of your position on marijuana use, I think we can all agree
that getting high and then getting behind the wheel can be a dangerous
act. We all want to feel safe driving along our province's roads and
highways. Be smart and help keep yourself and our roads safe.

Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC.
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