Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/944769
LEARN MORE To learn more about cannabis-impaired driving and the implications of legalization, visit: bcaa.com/cannabis AUTOMOTIVE 28 BCA A .COM SPRING 2018 Getty Images "Think about the range of situations you could encounter behind the wheel – a child jumping into the road, a vehicle swerving unexpectedly, a slippery bridge deck," says Pettipas. "There's just no way you want to be out there driving with your decision-making and motor skills compromised at all." The connection between cannabis and crashes Consuming cannabis before driving roughly doubles your risk of a car crash, according to Brubacher. His own work looks at the correlation between crashes and victims' blood THC levels. He and his team have been testing blood samples from crash victims at BC-based hospitals for the last five years. "Right now we're seeing about seven to eight per cent of these drivers test positive for cannabis," he says. "And we're seeing that cannabis use is higher in younger drivers." The impairing effects of cannabis shoot way up when you combine it with alcohol, he adds. "Even small amounts of alcohol that normally wouldn't increase your risk of crashing very much – if you throw cannabis into the mix and vice versa (and unfortunately lots of people do this), the risk of crashing and degree of impairment go up quite dramatically," he says. What's next? BCAA will be amping up its education efforts in the next few months to bring more awareness to this important issue; for instance, handing out "Driving High is Driving Impaired" car decals (look for a free one between p.24 and 25). Any conversation about cannabis with young drivers has to acknowledge one fact upfront, notes Pettipas: they're the generation that drinks and drives the least of any other. "The 'don't drink and drive' message really took hold with younger drivers. We're hoping they'll come to see cannabis in a similar light – and everyone should follow their lead when it comes to finding alternative transportation, or making sure they have a designated driver when they're consuming an impairing substance," he says. "Think about it: BC is our home, and it's your home. Let's work together to keep each other safe on the road." ■ Note: facts presented in this article were accurate as of press time. Young drivers are the generation that drinks and drives the least of any other.