Drugs as dangerous as alcohol for drivers
With prom season approaching, parents and advocacy organizations have been reminding high school students about the dangers of driving while intoxicated. But a recent report from the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse says drug use can be every bit as hazardous to road awareness as alcohol.
"There seems to be a public perception that drug use doesn't affect drivers to the same extent as drinking," said Doug Beirness, senior research and policy analyst at CCSA. "In fact, many drugs can affect the physical and cognitive processes necessary to operate a vehicle safely, posing a serious risk to the driver and other road users."
The study looked into 14,000 driver fatalities and the researchers found that while most of the deaths resulted from the person testing positive for alcohol, almost as many tested positive for drugs, 37 percent to 33 percent respectively.
Auto insurance hikes are often the least of a motorist's problems if convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. In Ontario, one offense can lead to a license being revoked. An assortment of remedial measures must be completed before their license can be reissued.