More Manitobans driving impaired: CAA report

As we head into the holiday season, more Manitoba drivers are getting behind the wheel impaired, according to a recent report by CAA Manitoba.

The increase in weed consumption is also an alarming trend that Manitoba Public Insurance is seeing too.

CAA data shows 24 per cent of drivers admitted to consuming cannabis before driving — a 6 per cent increase since last year.

“This is the one that hurts a little bit: a third of our survey respondents said that they felt high while driving,” said Ewald Friesen, the manager of government and community relations at CAA Manitoba.

According to the report, several hours after consuming weed, the respondents tend to make risky decisions on the road while relying on their driving skills.

“In the real world, if you’ve consumed cannabis, chances are you are going to feel overconfident behind the wheel,” said Friesen.

Tara Seel, the media and public relations lead at MPI, says, “People know impaired driving is dangerous. People know that impaired driving is something you shouldn’t do. So, it’s in that moment making the correct choice. And when you are already impaired, making that choice is difficult.”

Adding, “When you are driving impaired, you are not making a safe decision. And it affects everyone in that space.”

The report also showed that over half of Manitobans are unaware that penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs are the same.

Advocates say it reveals gaps, and more education has to be done.

“A lot of people understand about alcohol, but not everyone is on the same page when it comes to cannabis,” said Steve Sullivan, the CEO of MADD Canada.

Both MPI and CAA say, youth are most commonly driving impaired, and hefty fines and license suspensions are some of the consequences.

“Motor vehicle fatalities are the leading cause of death for young people. They are disproportionally impacted. And in half of these cases, alcohol and/or drugs were involved,” said Sullivan.