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‘If you’re high, you can’t drive’ — awareness campaign against drug impaired driving

*reprinted with permission from MADD Canada

In 2006, MADD Canada unveiled a new awareness campaign aimed to educate the Canadian public about the dangers and risks of driving while impaired by marijuana.

The current trends of drug use and increased drug impaired driving in Canada are disturbing. With this awareness campaign, we hope to convey the significance of the problem - particularly with young Canadians, who are most likely to toke and drive and who pose the greatest risk to themselves and all other motorists on our roads.

• New TV PSA unveiled to combat drugs and driving
• View the 30-second television campaign English| French
  (Quicktime required)
• MADD Canada Launches New Drug Impaired Driving Awareness Campaign Aimed at Youth and Post-Secondary Students
  
• View ‘Not Ready To Go‘ in Real Video

Relevant Statistics

• 14% of Canadians reported using cannabis in 2004, double the rate reported in 1994 (7.4%). Reported youth rates show almost 30% of 15-17 year olds and just over 47% of 18-19 year olds used cannabis in the past year. (Health Canada, November 2004)
• In British Columbia, autopsies on 227 fatally injured drivers found 31% positive for only alcohol, 9% positive for drugs and 11% positive for both.
• In Ontario, 1996 and 1997 surveys found people reporting driving within an hour of cannabis use in the past 12 months was 1.9% among the entire population; however, 9.3% among 18-19 year olds. Among cannabis users, the percentage reported driving within an hour of cannabis use was 22.8% (13.4% female and 28.2% male).
• In Quebec, a study of fatally injured drivers (April 1999 to November2001) indicated 22.6% were positive for only alcohol, 17.8% were positive for only drugs, and 12.4% were positive for both.

Interesting Links

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’ brochure ‘Did you know?’

Canadian Public Health Association’s Pot and Driving Campaign