In December, police added drugged driving to their holiday checklist. Studies suggest drugged driving is just as prevalent as drunk driving but cops say it’s not as socially unacceptable yet and more funding is needed to train police officers to spot drug impaired driving.

As a follow up to our last post, “Greg’s Law in Effect,” a Toronto Sun article published last month reported another incidence of a citizen being instrumental in raising awareness and lobbying governments for change. Ever since his son died in a fatal car crash in 1999 caused by a driver who was under the influence of marijuana, Gregg Thomson has been devoted to the fight against drugged driving.

Despite advancements made over the years, like more police forces signing on for Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training, lack of funding in several areas have slowed progress. For instance, the exact number of fatalities caused by drugged driving are currently unknown as budgetary restraints won’t allow for coroners to test for drugs like marijuana, oxycontin, cough syrup and other drugs.

Even though there is a lack of statistical evidence for determining the effects and prevalence of drugged driving in Canada, the Toronto Sun reports:

While several studies indicate that drunk driving has plateaued and drugged driving is on the rise, that may be because more officers are being trained to detect drug-impaired driving.

In 2008, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) researchers found 10.4% of drivers tested in British Columbia roadside tests were positive for “very recent” drug use, while 8.1% had been drinking. The same test done over a wider area in June 2010 found 9.9% tested positive for alcohol, compared to 7.2% for drugs, says Doug Beirness, CCSA senior research and policy analyst and adviser.

“We’ve been talking about drinking and driving for many, many years and we really haven’t acknowledged the fact that drugs are out there, too. The results of these surveys have certainly shown us that yes, indeed, the prevalence of drugs is just as high as that of alcohol,” Beirness says.

Although it’s always been illegal to drive impaired on drugs, police were unable to test for drugs until Bill C-2 came into effect, as we reported in “Impaired Driving Law Amendments Call for Drug Testing.” Once the law passed, officers with a DRE certificate have the power to do 12-step, standardized tests of suspected drugged drivers, often after drinking has been ruled out. Drivers refusing the test can be charged.

Hundreds of police officers a year are getting DRE training, however, York Regional Police Staff-Sgt. Brad Bulmer says training isn’t coming in fast enough and there are rumours of cuts to the federal funding for certification. Bulmer believes without federal resources, most police agencies will not have enough money for the expensive, intensive, labour-costly courses.

Part of the reason DRE training is so important is because there are no established drug thresholds like the .08 blood-alcohol limit imposed for drinking drivers.

Throwing the long list of illicit, prescription and over-the-counter drugs under one number would be impossible.

In order for blood, urine and saliva samples to hold up in court, they must be supported by the DRE officer’s observations to prove a driver was in fact impaired. After all, some drugs can remain in the system for several days even after the high is gone.

Advocates and experts agree that DRE training is only part of the solution. Youth still think it’s acceptable to drive impaired on drugs, whether illegal, prescribed or over-the-counter so public awareness is key to keeping our roads safe. More studies and funding (as much as drunk driving has received over the last 30 years) are needed to fully combat the issue of drugged driving.

What are your thoughts on this campaign?

Disclaimer: It is illegal for any paralegal to represent anyone for impaired driving, DUI or similar charge without being under the direction of a lawyer. Legal Action will be happy to refer you to trusted lawyers that have met the needs of many of our clients in the past and will help you find the lawyer you need to alleviate the anxiety and pressure associated with drinking and driving offences.