Behaviours

Myths and Facts

There are many misconceptions surrounding drugs and driving, such as the belief that police officers cannot detect drivers who have been smoking cannabis. We can now state that this is false!

“When I'm under the influence of cannabis, I am completely in control.”

False! Like alcohol, cannabis affects your ability to drive. When you are under the influence of cannabis, you have slower reaction times, more difficulty controlling your trajectory and coordinating your movements. You have a much greater risk of being involved in an accident.

Alcohol or drugs: Don’t drive.

“Police officers cannot check whether a driver is under the influence of drugs.”

False! Police officer can assess a driver's ability to drive by administering roadside tests and, if necessary, more extensive tests at the police station.

Physical coordination tests

These are tests that police officers can administer on the side of the road if they suspect that a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. These include balance, walking and eye movement tests.

These tests are enough to place a driver under arrest and bring him or her to the police station for more extensive tests.

Drug recognition experts

These experts are police officers trained to administer more extensive tests to drivers whose condition so requires.

These tests include measuring blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and pupil dilation, examining the mouth, carrying out urine or blood tests, etc.

If the results test positive, they will be submitted as evidence to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales for possible prosecution under the Criminal Code.

Blood tests

You may be required to provide a blood sample in order to determine whether you were driving with drugs or certain types of medication in your system. If the results of the blood test show that you have a blood drug concentration equal to or over the concentration prescribed by federal regulation, criminal charges may be brought against you.

Tricks for beating the tests don't work

Because the effectiveness of the tests has been scientifically proven.

“I've been drinking or smoking pot, but I'm not going far.”

Wrong! About 45% of accidents occur near the home. This is what happens:

• when a route is familiar, drivers tend to pay less attention and switch to “auto-pilot,” which means that their vigilance is decreased and reaction times are slower
• when drugs are involved, judgment is impaired. This can lead drivers to make errors that are easily noticed by police officers or cause an accident

“I can always take back roads to avoid the police.”

This isn't a good idea! If you have taken drugs, even in small quantities, you might think that you are less likely to come across a police car on back roads or less busy roads… However, police officers know about these tactics, and increase their surveillance in less travelled areas.

“I drank or smoked yesterday, I'm still at risk of being arrested.”

Police officers can detect traces of uneliminated alcohol or drugs using screening tests only if your ability to drive is impaired.

“I only smoke pot, which is harmless because it's a soft drug.”

Driving under the influence of cannabis or other soft drugs

Using soft drugs results in poor distance perception, speeding, difficulty maintaining a steady speed and a straight course as well as decreased reflexes.

These are all factors that could cause an accident!

Driving under the influence of a hard drug such as heroin or cocaine

Cocaine and heroin, for example, are powerful substances with disinhibiting effects that cause a euphoric state where everything seems possible and allowed.

At the wheel, these drugs cause aggressiveness that results in excessive speeding and taking foolish risks, such as overtaking another vehicle in a curve or changing lanes suddenly.

“Medication is not as dangerous as illegal drugs.”

Some types of medications prescribed by health care professionals or sold over the counter can affect your ability to drive because they may cause:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• decreased concentration
• memory problems
• etc.

These types of medications can include tranquilizers, antidepressants, sleeping pills, antihistamines (for allergies), decongestants (for sinus problems or coughing, etc.), muscle relaxants and many others, such as painkillers that contain opioids or other substances.

Almost all types of medication can cause side effects that affect your ability to drive, and these side effects may vary from person to person. Medication that causes drowsiness is particularly dangerous when driving.

You take medication and you have to drive?

Consult your physician or pharmacist to know about the effects of your medication on driving.

Carefully read the instructions and pay special attention to any contraindications to driving, regardless of whether the medication is prescribed by a physician or sold over the counter.

“I can use cannabis in my vehicle, because it’s prescribed for therapeutic purposes.”

Only passengers who do not have care or control of the vehicle may consume cannabis prescribed for therapeutic purposes in a vehicle, and only if it is not smoked. This also means that the passenger cannot use pipes, bongs, e-cigarettes or any other device of this nature. This exception does not apply to recreational cannabis and does not allow for a vehicle to be driven in a state of impairment.

Last update: June  3, 2022