British Columbia is home to the toughest impaired driving laws in the country. Those laws, coupled with the life-long personal consequences that can come from impaired driving, should make anyone think twice before driving under the influence.
According to statistics from ICBC, impairment is one of the top three contributing factors for fatal crashes, and on average 66 people die in British Columbia in crashes involving impaired driving annually.
Fifty-eight per cent of impaired-related crashes take place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and 40 per cent of them take place at night between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
The term “impairment” is not limited to just alcohol and illegal drugs. Some legal prescription medications can leave you impaired under the Criminal Code.
Certain cold and flu medication as well as drugs for allergies could cause drowsiness, making you slow to react and unfocused. Prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs and should also never be mixed with alcohol. Remember to read labels carefully and talk with your doctor to make sure you’re safe to drive.
Here’s a quick break down of some of the penalties of driving under the influence – if you’re caught behind the wheel while under the influence in B.C., your license will be suspended from 24 hours to 90 days and your vehicle will be impounded on the spot.
Fines range from $600 all the way up to $4,060 and you may be faced with the possibility of jail time. Depending on the offence, the driver may also face mandatory rehabilitation or an ignition interlock device will be installed into your vehicle, meaning that the driver must provide clean breath samples before the vehicle will start and also during random intervals.
Driving under the influence of any substance is simply not worth it.
And what about marijuana? According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the reality is that marijuana delays reaction time, making it dangerous not only for you, but for other drivers on the road. If mixed with other substances, like alcohol, the dangers of smoking marijuana and driving are magnified significantly.
With the federal government’s plan to legalize marijuana, expect to see a new threshold established very soon and some changes to the current laws regarding impaired driving. For example, in Colorado where marijuana is legal, the State made driving under the influence of pot illegal. Any driver found with more than five nanograms of THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, per millilitre of blood could be charged with a DUI.
The simplest way to keep yourself and others safe is to plan ahead. If you have a feeling you’d want to drink alcohol or use marijuana for a night out, arrange a ride with a friend who won’t be drinking or using, or call a cab to take you home.
It’s also important to know the legal limits in B.C., and this can depend on the type of license you have. The legal limit under the BC Motors Act is under 0.05 blood alcohol content, but Novice and Learners drivers in BC’s graduated licensing program will be suspended for 12 hours and required to start their stage over if any alcohol is detected on the Approved Screening Device.
AutoNote: Impaired driving and distracted driving contribute to the highest fatalities on B.C.’s roads. Every year, approximately 78 fatalities occur due to distracted driving. Have a word with yourself before getting behind the wheel and avoid any behaviours that can spell danger for yourself or others, and remember – leave the phone alone while on the road.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. You can email him at [email protected].
