{"id":20816,"date":"2023-10-05T18:32:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T18:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insurance-canada.ca\/?p=78449"},"modified":"2023-10-05T18:32:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T18:32:29","slug":"impaired-by-drugs-find-a-safe-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/2023\/10\/05\/impaired-by-drugs-find-a-safe-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Impaired by drugs? Find a safe ride!"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are different categories of drug \u2013 and many of them can impair your ability to drive<\/h3>\n

Regina, SK (Oct. 4, 2023) \u2013 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\u2019s prescription or over-the-counter medication. The consequences are the same as driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the focus of October\u2019s Traffic Safety Spotlight is drug-impaired driving.<\/p>\n

\u201cImpaired drivers in Saskatchewan face some of the toughest administrative sanctions in the country, with immediate licence suspensions and vehicle seizures at the roadside,\u201d SGI President and CEO Penny McCune said. \u201cIf convicted, further penalties may include fines, jail time and long-term driving restrictions. Remember to always find a safe ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re 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).<\/p>\n

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<\/a> with a federally approved drug screening device or a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)<\/a> evaluation to determine drug impairment and the driver\u2019s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.<\/p>\n

Drug Recognition Expert Evaluations have been accepted by Canadian courts as legally binding evidence in impaired driving cases for many years.<\/p>\n

DRE-trained officers undergo extensive training and use a rigorous, scientific 12-step procedure<\/a> in performing the evaluation. The evaluation must show impairment signs and symptoms consistent with one or more drug categories, and the evaluator\u2019s findings must be supported by the toxicology.<\/p>\n

Follow these tips to keep you and yours safe:<\/p>\n