Getting behind the wheel while impaired by drugs is not only dangerous, it’s against the law. It doesn’t matter which substance you’re impaired by; impaired driving is still impaired driving.
Studies have shown that, among younger drivers, driving after using cannabis is more prevalent than driving after drinking alcohol.
More young people report getting into a car with a driver who has recently used cannabis, as opposed to driving after using it themselves. (Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) 2017).
After alcohol, cannabis is the most commonly-detected substance among drivers who died in vehicle crashes. (CCSA 2017)
Cannabis significantly affects crucial functions for operating a motor vehicle:
- It impairs depth perception, concentration and attention span, making it difficult to be aware on the road.
- It slows your reaction time and decreases muscle strength and hand steadiness. This inhibits your ability to respond to hazards, and makes you a hazard to others.
Learn more about Alberta’s impaired driving laws.
