Imagine if you had to tell a family that their child was never coming home again...because a driver had a few too many drinks and they were too lazy to get a taxi? How would you feel if it was your child? Your brother, your parent, your best friend? Now imagine that you're the one who had a few drinks and thought...Home isn't too far. I'll make it without getting busted. While on the back streets worrying if the booze bus will catch you, you hit someone. How do you live with that for the rest of your life?
A new study by the University of British Columbia (UBC) has revealed a concerning trend: cannabis is now the most commonly detected single impairing substance in blood samples taken from injured drivers across Canada.
Key Findings: The study, which analysed data from over 10,000 injured drivers in eight provinces between 2018 and 2023, found that 16.6% of drivers tested positive for cannabis, while 16.0% tested positive for alcohol. This marks a significant shift, as alcohol has historically been the leading cause of impaired driving.
However, it’s important to note that while cannabis is being detected more frequently, the levels found in most cases were not high enough to definitively indicate impairment and a direct link to the crash. The study highlights that drunk driving remains a more significant public health concern due to the much higher crash risk associated with alcohol consumption.
This ongoing UBC study collects anonymised blood samples from injured drivers who visit participating hospitals after motor vehicle collisions. The samples are then analysed for the presence of impairing substances.
Ongoing Research Focuses on Multiple Substances: The research also identified another concerning trend: polysubstance use. Over one-fifth (21.0%) of the injured drivers tested positive for a combination of impairing substances. This highlights the growing need for further research into the combined effects of different drugs on driving ability.
While the study findings suggest a shift in impaired driving patterns in Canada, more research is needed to understand the full implications. The relatively low levels of THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis) detected in most positive cases warrant further investigation into the relationship between cannabis use and crash risk. Additionally, the study emphasises the dangers of combining cannabis with other impairing substances.
Source: UBC
