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'If you’re high, you can’t drive' -- awareness campaign against drug impaired driving

The current trends of drug use and increased drug impaired driving in Canada are disturbing.  MADD Canada wants the public to know the risks and what can be done to combat drug impaired driving.  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 EN| FR
  (Quicktime required)
  
• MADD Canada Launches New Drug Impaired Driving Awareness Campaign Aimed at Youth and Post-Secondary Students
  
• If you're high, you can't drive logo (PDF)
  
• View 'Not Ready To Go' in Real Video

Relevant Statistics

• 14% of Canadians reported using cannabis in the past year, 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?' (link)

Justice Canada's Media Release on introduction of Drug Impaired Driving Legislation (link)

Justice Canada's document: 'Theory of Drug Evaluation by Trained Officers' (link)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - U.S. site (link)

MADD Canada's releases on drug impaired driving

(over last 36 months)

MADD:  'Ensure safe roads by passing drug-impaired driving law now"
National Media Release
June 16, 2005

New Video Will Deliver A Sobering Message to Students
National Media Release
May 17, 2005

New Drug-impaired Driving Bill "A First Step in the Right Direction"
MADD Canada and police partners release
April 28, 2004

Canadians Want Drug-Impaired Driving Legislation
National Media Release
February 27, 2004

Police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Customs Officers Urge the Prime Minister of Canada to Delay Marijuana Bill
National Media Release
February 24, 2004

Police And Mothers Against Drunk Driving Call For An End To The Race To Pass Marijuana Bill
MADD Canada Release
November 3, 2003

MADD to Minister: "Wait 'til you have checks and balances in place"
MADD Canada Release
May 26, 2003

Decriminalizing Cannabis - "They've got the cart before the horse"
MADD Canada Release
May 13, 2003

Background Material -

Authority to Demand Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (PDF)

Authority to Demand A Drug Evaluation and Classification Test (PDF)

Authority to Demand Blood, Urine and Saliva Samples for Drug Testing (PDF)