
Impaired is Impaired.
What is Drugged Driving?
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), defines the terms “drugged driving”, and “drug-impaired driving” as driving a motor vehicle while impaired by any type of drug or medication or combination of drugs, medication and alcohol. These include illegal substances, mind-altering prescription medications, and over-the-counter remedies and medications that affect an individual’s ability to drive safely.1
Studies show that driving high nearly doubles the risk of an accident, and a recent study commissioned by DFK Canada found that nearly one third (32%) of teens feel driving high (after marijuana use) is not as risky as drunk driving, while one in four high school seniors say they have ridden in a car with a high driver.
Our latest campaign, “The Call That Comes After,” aims to drive home the dangers of high driving and being a passenger in a car with a driver who has used marijuana to parents and teens.
DFK has developed a modern tool of communications allowing parents an easy way to begin an important conversation with their kids about the dangers of driving high - even when it's not easy. We urge parents to try it out.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a combination of the two is very dangerous. The use of any psychoactive (mind-altering) drug makes it highly unsafe to drive a car and is illegal—just like driving after drinking alcohol.
High driving puts at risk not only the driver but also passengers and others who share the road.
Disturbing Facts
The Stats are Clear: Driving while high kills
A significant proportion of fatally injured drivers tested positive for drug use and levels were close to those of alcohol across Canada.
Drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 years old account for most driver fatality cases. They also happen to be the group that contains the largest proportion of drinking driver fatalities ( 27.6%) and drug positive related fatalities (26.9%) 7
Teenage Drug Usage
What can you do?