Impaired Driving Consequences

Can Cannabis really effect your driving?

YES ... THE SAME WAY IT CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH ON A JOB SITE.

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Impaired is Impaired

Public Safety Canada, surveyed Canadians who had driven while impaired.

• 25% insisted that driving under the influence of cannabis was much safer than driving after consuming alcohol.

The National Transportation Safety Board is adamant that there is a significant increase in drug-impaired drivers on American roads. It asserts that we must do something as soon as possible.

• The truth is: any substance that alters your state of mind diminishes your ability to react to emergencies or sudden unexpected changes in traffic, weather, or road conditions

 

Driving Sober

• THC and Alcohol affect your Central Nervous System differently.

• Combining alcohol and THC, more than triples the risk of impairment*

• ( see next slide from the American Association of Clinical Chemistry )

BOTH substances can affect your attention, reaction time, coordination, balance, fine motor, and decision-making skills.

( Things that are kind of important for driving if you want to arrive alive! )

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Combining Alcohol with THC

• A study by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) found that combining alcohol with cannabis increases THC levels in your blood.

• It discovered that using weed increased the risk of a fatal accident by 70%. 

• The risk was 740% greater when you use alcohol, and. . .

• 840% greater when drivers combine alcohol with marijuana.

 

Pot while Driving...
it’s NO BIG DEAL right?

Past generations did not think that driving drunk was such a big deal. The fatality and injury statistics
were overwhelming for decades, until tough laws were enforced.

Unfortunately too many people today also believe that Marijuana ( and edibles ) are a safer alternative to drinking
while driving.

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Post Mortem Toxicology Screening

• Cannabis in all forms is second only to alcohol as the most prevalent substance found among drivers who die in traffic crashes in North America.

• Post-mortem toxicology screening during an autopsy can detect several classes of drugs such as opiates, amphetamines, marijuana, alcohol and barbiturates.

• If a substance is detected , forensic scientists confirm the results by running more tests, which can take several more days and might have to be repeated to ensure accuracy.

• If you are suspected of impairment as a vehicle operator you can safely assume that you will be ordered to submit to a breathalyzer test, field drug test OR universal toxicology screening that certainly will be presented as evidence against you in court ( unless you were killed ).

 

Reasons for Universal Toxicology Screening

• Medical testing

• Employment drug testing

• Forensic analysis

• Athletics testing

• Organ transplants

• The problem with substance use, abuse and or addictions ( beyond mental and physical health ), is that your lifestyle can be adversely affected when others discover of your habit through testing.

 

Why are we addressing teenagers ?

• Persons aged 18 to 25 are the most likely to drive under the influence of drugs than any other age group.

• Besides alcohol, THC from marijuana is the most common substance found in the blood of car crash victims, fatally injured drivers, and impaired drivers,

• Approximately 4-14% of drivers who died or suffered an injury in a car accident had tested positive for THC.

• The most at-risk demographic for addictions, is teenagers, with nearly a quarter of all high school students reporting that they were offered illegal drugs in the last year, and more than 8 out of 10 admitting to at least 1 incident of binge drinking. ( Source : BC Naturopathic Association ).

 

Criminal Consequences

• Cause Injury or Death

• Arrest

• Jail or Prison

• Lose Car

• Suspend Driving License

• Huge insurance costs

• Huge legal expenses

• Ruin career prospects

 

On Arrest for Impaired Driving:

• Upon being arrested for impaired driving the driver receives immediate penalties of:

• 7 day vehicle seizure

• $800 to $1000 towing fee

• 90 day licence suspension

• no collision coverage in accidents

• $281 dollar licence reinstatement fee

• These measures are taken BEFORE you appear in a court. On conviction penalties are much more severe. Many provinces and states have similar consequences.

 

Other consequences of arrest for impaired driving :

• Once arrested, impaired driving has mandatory drivers licence suspensions including;

• ninety (90) day licence suspension

• seven (7) day seizure of vehicle

• one year licence prohibition upon conviction

• cannot drive anything that is:

• pushed, pulled or driven,

• including boats and

• machinery and

• construction equipment

• Once arrested the driver cannot operate anything that is pushed, pulled or driven by any type of engine, anywhere in Canada.

• This includes using construction machinery or farm equipment.

 

Prevention Principals

• If you are planning on using cannabis, follow these four simple, yet potentially life-saving, rules:

• Make sure you have a designated driver

• Call a friend or loved one to pick you up

• Call a cab or a ride sharing service

• Stay over and sleep it off

 

24 Hour Help for Teenagers with an Addiction

https://kidshelpphone.ca ( Canada )
Or TEXT To start using the text service, text CONNECT to 686868.

http://www.teenhelp.org ( United States )

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