Alcohol and drugs: SAAQ begins holiday awareness campaign
More than a month after the legalization of cannabis, the Société de l 'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) is continuing its education work on the risks associated with alcohol or drugs behind the wheel and is rolling out a massive awareness campaign.
The campaign aims to remind us that although cannabis is legal, it is forbidden to drive after consuming it. As with alcohol, cannabis at the wheel can have serious consequences.
The campaign will extend from Nov. 26 to Jan. 6, 2019, and is primarily aimed at
a target audience of drivers aged 18 to 44, with emphasis on 18 to 24 year-olds.
The theme of the campaign is "Alcohol or drugs: don’t drive, don’t take the risk.” It will be spread on TV, radio, displays, the web, and social media. Video messages are also available on the SAAQ Youtube channel.
From Nov. 29, 2018 to Jan. 3, 2019, police organizations and road controllers will conduct a concerted provincial operation during which they will provide increased surveillance and intensive alcohol and drug roadside checks.
"Impaired driving, no matter what substance is consumed, is unacceptable,” said Transport Minister François Bonnardel. “Especially for cannabis, the message is clear: when you consume, you don’t drive. The Québec government wants to continue work to improve road safety, particularly by making drivers aware of the dangers of alcohol and drugs while driving. I encourage drivers to exercise caution and maintain safe driving habits."
"There is no doubt that, like alcohol, cannabis has effects that impair the ability to drive and increase the risk of an accident. That's why our police partners will be on the ground throughout the holiday season. With the many alternatives that exist, such as Operation Nezrouge, there is no valid excuse for driving while impaired," said Nathalie Tremblay, President and CEO of the SAAQ.
Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is dangerous behavior and severely punishable under the Criminal Code and the Highway Safety Code. In Quebec, cannabis is the drug detected in greater proportion among drivers who have been killed. From 2012 to 2016, among drivers who died in a highway accident in Quebec, 33 per cent had licit or illicit drugs in their blood, 19 per cent had cannabis in their blood, and 35 per cent of drivers aged 16 to 24 had cannabis in their blood.
On average, each year from 2012 to 2016, drinking and driving was involved in 110 deaths (30 per cent and 260 seriously injured (15 per cent) and 800 light injuries (5 per cent).
Cannabis causes a decrease in alertness, concentration and reflexes, poor coordination, and longer reaction time, in addition to affecting judgment, Specifically cannabis impaired drivers don’t notice signs, have trouble staying in the center of the lane, and often perform unsafe maneuvers, such as braking late. They also tend to have difficulty responding in an emergency.
Mixing cannabis and alcohol amplifies the effects of both and greatly increases the risk of being involved in a traffic accident. Police officers can detect someone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
As of Dec. 18, failure of the Drug Recognition Expert's test will result in the immediate suspension of the driver's license for 90 days. In the event of a repeat offense, the vehicle will be seized for 90 days and could result in criminal charges.