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. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt