Legal cannabis in Canada will get its first big public safety test over the coming weeks as people head out on the roads for seasonal activities such as school band concerts, pre-Christmas shopping excursions, and other such things.
Whether the legalization of cannabis will lead to more drivers operating their motor vehicles while drug-impaired remains to be seen.
What is known is that next to alcohol, cannabis is already one of the most commonly misused substances associated with impaired driving in Canada.
In an effort to discourage drivers from casting aside caution and getting behind the wheel when stoned, the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) has launched a new public awareness campaign.
The campaign’s overall goal is to inform drivers that driving while under the influence of cannabis, in any of it forms, is always a bad idea.
“Cannabis affects your reaction time, attention span, co-ordination and decision-making – virtually everything that’s required to drive,” says Jeff Kasbrick, AMA vice-president of government and stakeholder relations.
“The facts are clear: driving high is driving impaired and it’s just not worth the risk.”
The AMA is particularly concerned with the results of recent federal surveys that found that many motorists believe, wrongly, that operating a car or truck while under the influence of pot doesn’t impair their driving skills.
“These are extremely concerning myths and misconceptions when it relates to the impact cannabis has on their ability to drive. We need to set the record straight,” he said.
The AMA has teamed up with the Alberta Students’ Executive Council and others in this new effort to discourage high driving.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving has worked tirelessly over the past many years to keep Canada’s roadways safe from drunk drivers. Hopefully the message that impaired driving, whether caused by alcohol or drugs, is always a bad idea will resonate with cannabis users this upcoming holiday season.
And for those who don’t think the drug-impaired driving message applies to them, think again.
- Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor
