Canada’s DUI problem involves drugged as well as drunk driving

Drugged driving is a serious issue in Canada, as the latest research suggests.
August 10, 2018 Read time: 1 min

Drugged driving is a serious issue in Canada, as the latest research suggests. While drunk driving has, to an extent, been addressed the risks posed by drugged driving remain. With the legal restrictions on the use of cannabis looking to be eased in Canada, the problem of driving under the influence of the drug has yet to be fully tackled.

Young drivers in particular are thought to be at risk. Research by the Partnership for a Drug Free Canada suggests that almost twice as many teenaged drivers will get behind the wheel when under the influence of cannabis than when under the influence of alcohol.

More worryingly still, research suggests that as many as 34% of teen drivers think they perform better behind the wheel when under the influence of cannabis. The drug causes driver impairment in a different way to alcohol, affecting distance perception and attentiveness in particular, although the slowing of reaction times it causes is similar to that resulting from alcohol use.

Related Content

  • More driver licence screening for UK?
    April 25, 2012
    Anomalies regarding the return of driving licenses to people found guilty of serious driving offences have been uncovered in the UK. In a number of instances, these drivers have then gone on to commit more driving offences and in at least two cases, causing fatalities.
    Read More
  • Virginia highway contract awarded
    October 8, 2021
    A major Virginia highway contract has been awarded.
    Read More
  • Driverless vehicles -safe at any speed?
    May 22, 2018
    The development of driverless vehicles is ongoing, with manufacturers in the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea and China all working on various projects. But as the recent pedestrian fatality involving a driverless car under test in Arizona highlights, safety is not entirely assured. One key problem is that the road environment is not straightforward and self-driving vehicles have to share roadspace with vehicles under human control. However, human behaviour is not easy to predict. Nor is there one mode of beh
    Read More
  • Stonehenge Bypass contract awarded to consortium
    October 3, 2022
    The Stonehenge Bypass contract has been awarded to a consortium.
    Read More

Highlighted Content