MORE DRIVERS IMPAIRED BY POT: POLICE

Just when motorists and pedestrians thought they had to look out for
drunk drivers on the road this Christmas season, Langley RCMP are
warning driving under the influence of drugs is on the rise.

At recent road checks in Langley, seven of the drivers issued a
24-hour suspension were under the influence of drugs, mainly
marijuana. Langley RCMP's traffic section conducted a number of
safety check-stops over a two-day period recently.

During the routine road stops, officers checked for driver sobriety,
vehicle licence, permits, ownership and insurance and mechanical
defects of both commercial and personal vehicles. Out of the 350
vehicles checked, 30 were commercial.

In total, 32 tickets and 10 warnings were issued for no driver's
licence, seatbelt infractions, defective motor vehicles, no pre-trip
inspections, and log book violations.

Five individuals were arrested for drug possession and a total of
eight vehicles were impounded. Seven drivers had their licences
suspended for 24 hours for driving under the influence of drugs. As
well, a cash seizure was made as related to proceeds of crime.

The check-stops are part of an ongoing Road Safety Strategy to reduce
the number of people fatally or seriously injured on roadways by 30
per cent by 2010.

Last year, nine people were killed in crashes in Langley. The number
is already up to 10 this year, with the most recent fatality
Thursday. Cpl. Dave Peat is Langley's drug recognition expert and is
qualified to evaluate drivers under the influence of drugs.

Peat said it was somewhat alarming that during these road checks,
seven people issued 24-hour suspensions were driving under the
influence of drugs.

"It has been an increasing trend," he said.

In a two-day road check conducted by North Island Traffic Services
between Nov. 24 and 25, police saw a similar number of drivers
suspended for drug use.

Nov. 21, the Canadian Public Health Association, with funding from
Canada's Drug Strategy, Health Canada, launched a "Pot and Driving"
campaign that can been viewed at http://www.potanddriving.cpha.ca.

It raises awareness, especially among young drivers and passengers,
of the risks of marijuana-impaired driving, including providing facts
about what pot does to a person's reaction time.

The site argues people may know how many drinks they've had and what
kind, but it's impossible to say how strong pot is. It also warns of
the deadly combination of combining alcohol and pot while driving.

Recent research about marijuana is showing that it can play a role in
crashes, especially when combined with driver inexperience and
difficult road conditions, said Peat.

Road accidents are often the combination of factors and "being under
the influence of marijuana" can be one of them.

Peat pointed out that legislation is before Parliament to strengthen
the laws in regards to drug-impaired drivers.

Presently, police can issue a 24-hour roadside suspension to any
driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs.

If the driving evidence is strong, a drug impaired driver can also be
charged with impaired driving under the Criminal Code.

Amongst those drivers found to be impaired by drugs at the check
stops, marijuana use is the most predominant.

RCMP are asking the public to keep road safety on the top their mind
this holiday season.

Motorists should ensure their vehicles are safe to drive in cold,
winter conditions; slow down; wear their seat belts and stay sober, said Peat.