Driving High Can Get You a DUI
Drugs can impair your ability to drive safely and increase the risk of getting into a collision. In fact, cannabis increases your chance of a car accident. The percentage of Canadian drivers killed in vehicle crashes who test positive for drugs now exceeds the number who test positive for alcohol.
Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada, and drug-impaired driving is on the rise.
Getting behind the wheel while impaired by drugs is not only dangerous, it’s against the law. Trained police officers or Drug Recognition Experts can determine if you are under the influence of a drug and can charge you with impaired driving. You can have your license suspended, face fines, criminal charges, and even jail time.
How Cannabis Impairs Drivers
Cannabis can impair each person differently. The level of impairment depends on:
- The method of consumption (e.g., smoking, inhaling, ingesting)
- The quantity of cannabis consumed
- The variety of cannabis and its THC levels, including cannabis prescribed for medical use
As a result, there is no reliable guidance for drivers on how much cannabis can be consumed before it is unsafe to drive or how long a driver should wait to drive after consuming cannabis.
Don’t take a chance. Don’t drive high.
How Cannabis Affects Your Ability to Drive
When you drive, you need to be alert and focused. Even small amounts of cannabis can affect your ability to react and increase your chance of being in a crash. Drugs impair your driving by:
- Affecting motor skills
- Slowing reaction time
- Impairing short-term memory and concentration
- Causing drivers to vary speed and wander
- Reducing the ability to make quick decisions or handle unexpected events
Cannabis is not the only drug that affects your ability to drive. Other drugs, including cocaine, prescription medications such as opioids, and even over-the-counter medications, can impair your ability to drive safely. These pose risks not only to you but also to your passengers, other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
How to Plan Ahead
There is no good excuse for driving while impaired, and being a passenger with an impaired driver is also risky. You have options:
- Make sure you have a designated driver
- Call a friend or loved one to pick you up
- Take public transit
- Call a cab or a ridesharing service
- Stay over