BCAA

Your BCAA SPRING 2018 BCA A .COM 5 Shom Sen President & CEO I n this issue of BCAA Magazine, we're exploring an important topic that will soon impact all of us in our province and country – the legalization of cannabis and the implications for impaired driving. For 115 years, BCAA has helped protect British Columbians on the road. From getting more kids into properly fitted child car seats and providing elementary schools with a school zone safety patrol program, to advocating for a law to better protect drivers and workers on the side of the road, we have a long history of making roads safer. While we can't address every road safety issue out there, we are seriously concerned about the potential dangers of high driving. With legalization expected this summer, there is still much to learn. We don't yet have the same weight of science to explain the impact of cannabis use on driving as we do for alcohol. However, work is underway, and the research we do have is worrisome. An overwhelming majority of motorists who participated in a CAA survey last year are as concerned as we are about road safety after cannabis legalization, but 20 per cent of younger Canadian drivers (18–34) believe that cannabis doesn't affect their driving – if anything, they think it makes them better drivers. Yes, you read that right: better. This misconception is not only misinformed, it's scary. Research, both in laboratory simulations and on the road, repeatedly shows cannabis can have a negative impact on the cognitive skills needed for safe driving, including alertness, short-term memory, decision-making and executive functions such as planning, organizing and managing time and space. So, what's the best way to get the message out? We could be hard-hitting; use shocking images and authoritarian language. But I'm not convinced this is the way to go. Yes, 20 per cent of younger drivers think driving on cannabis is safe, but on the flip side, 80 per cent don't. Perhaps there is a way to tap into the 80 per cent to help the other group. Overall, younger drivers have a strong road safety perspective from growing up in a time of designated drivers and mass education around impairment risks and laws. Drinking-and-driving messaging was drilled in before they could even see over the dashboard. Their generation may very well be the most responsible drivers of our time. We hope you find our cover story informative and that you'll engage with us through our website, where we'll post information and encourage conversations about this important topic. We've also included a car decal between p.24 and 25 to help create awareness and show your support. As cannabis becomes legal, let's work together to further the message that high driving is impaired driving, and look for more about this topic, from BCAA from now on. Thanks for being on this journey with us. We have so much to know with little time, and so much to protect. Legal Cannabis: A New Era in Road Safety

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