(NC) Now that cannabis is legal, Ontario has introduced drug-impaired driving laws that significantly impact young and novice drivers.

Two words describe the government’s approach: zero tolerance. This means they’ve upped police powers and sanctions for new drivers. When caught with alcohol or drugs in their system, their licence is immediately suspended, and they face escalating fines, and the risk of having to restart the graduated licensing system.

“Concerns about road safety and cannabis-impaired driving are more valid than ever,” explains Elliott Silverstein, manager of government relations for CAA. “It is critical that public education and enforcement remain at the forefront of efforts post-legalization.”  

Case in point: the tougher sanctions may be at odds with what Ontario’s newest drivers believe about cannabis use.

“The most common myth is that cannabis makes them a better driver,” shares Anne Leonard, president of arrive alive Drive Sober, an organization aimed at eradicating impaired driving.

“They believe it helps them focus, drive slower,” Leonard says, adding it’s a misconception common to both young and adult drivers.

In truth, cannabis impairs your focus, coordination, peripheral vision and depth perception. Even a minimal amount more than doubles the risk of a collision.

These misconceptions are worrying in light of the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey recently conducted by Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), wherein one in five students from grades seven to 12 reported using cannabis in 2017, with others saying they’d try it when it becomes legal.

With 15 the average age of a first-time cannabis user —people at the cusp of receiving their driver’s licence — another of the survey’s findings is concerning: nine per cent of student drivers from grades 10 to 12 reported driving within an hour of taking cannabis.

What can parents do?

As an advocate for road safety in Ontario, CAA encourages parents to speak to their children about safe driving including the risks and laws that govern drug-impaired driving. For additional resources and information visit www.caasco.com/cannabis.