There are different categories of drug – and many of them can impair your ability to drive

Regina, SK (Oct. 4, 2023) – Your driving can be impaired by more than alcohol and cannabis. A driver can be charged for operating a motor vehicle while impaired by any type of drug, even if it’s prescription or over-the-counter medication. The consequences are the same as driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis.

Different types of drugs can impair you in different ways. Central nervous system depressants like alcohol and some anti-depressants may cause confusion and impair motor functions, while some hallucinogens like MDMA and LSD may cause body tremors, anxiety and visual hallucinations. Narcotics depress reflexes, induce drowsiness and slow breathing patterns, and central nervous system stimulants, like cocaine, cause exaggerated reflexes, irritability and restlessness.

That’s why the focus of October’s Traffic Safety Spotlight is drug-impaired driving.

“Impaired drivers in Saskatchewan face some of the toughest administrative sanctions in the country, with immediate licence suspensions and vehicle seizures at the roadside,” SGI President and CEO Penny McCune said. “If convicted, further penalties may include fines, jail time and long-term driving restrictions. Remember to always find a safe ride.”

If you’re charged with impaired driving, your vehicle will be seized at roadside for 30 days and you will receive an immediate licence suspension until your charges are resolved in court, or you are eligible for Ignition Interlock (if applicable).

If police have reasonable suspicion that a driver is under the  influence of an impairing substance (drugs, alcohol or a combination of both), they can demand the driver take a standardized field sobriety test, an oral fluid (roadside mouth swab) test with a federally approved drug screening device or a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation to determine drug impairment and the driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Drug Recognition Expert Evaluations have been accepted by Canadian courts as legally binding evidence in impaired driving cases for many years.

DRE-trained officers undergo extensive training and use a rigorous, scientific 12-step procedure in performing the evaluation. The evaluation must show impairment signs and symptoms consistent with one or more drug categories, and the evaluator’s findings must be supported by the toxicology.

Follow these tips to keep you and yours safe:

• If you’re taking any kind of medication, speak to your doctor or pharmacist to understand how it might affect your ability to drive.^†
• Read the labels for over-the-counter medication to learn about potential side effects.
• If the medication you’re taking could impair your driving ability, be extremely cautious before deciding whether to drive. Just because you “feel” fine, doesn’t mean you’ll drive fine.
• Never mix medications with alcohol – it can compound the impairing effects.
• If you have been consuming drugs and/or alcohol: #FindASafeRide. Call a friend or family member, take a taxi, rideshare or designated driving service, use public transit, designate a sober driver or spend the night.

Make sure you follow SGI on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Threads for more information on this month’s Traffic Safety Spotlight.

Notes

^† If a driver has a medical condition that a medical practitioner has advised will impact their ability to drive, the driver is required to report it to SGI. https://sgi.sk.ca/medical-conditions

About SGI CANADA

SGI CANADA is the property and casualty insurance division of SGI, offering products in five Canadian provinces. It operates as SGI CANADA in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, and also as Coachman Insurance Company in Ontario. Products are sold through a network of independent insurance brokers. For more information, visit www.sgicanada.ca.

Source: Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)

Tags: driving safety, impaired driving, Marijuana, prescription drugs, SGI