Don’t Drive High
Follow:
Eye-opener
Download video MP4 (14.7 MB)Drug-impaired driving is dangerous and against the law
There's a lot going on around you when you drive. You need to be totally focussed so that if a split-second – and potentially life-saving – decision needs to be made, you're ready for it.
Drugs affect your ability to react and increase the chance of a crash. Don't get behind the wheel or get in a car with an impaired driver — it's just not worth the risk.
Driving impaired is illegal. Learn about the types, risks, laws and enforcement.
Perceptions
Download video MP4 (17.4 MB)Symptoms
Download video MP4 (16.6 MB)Consequences
Download video MP4 (16.2 MB)Alternatives
Download video MP4 (15.6 MB)Drugs impair your ability to drive by affecting:
- balance and coordination
- motor skills
- attention
- judgment
- reaction time
- decision-making skills
Every 3 hours
How often a drug-impaired driving incident is recorded in CanadaFootnote 1
It's illegal
You could face consequences like a fine, criminal charges, even jail timeFootnote 4
Over 1 in 4
Number of cannabis users who reported having driven under the influenceFootnote 2
Increases Likelihood
Marijuana increases your chances of being in a crashFootnote 3
What you can do
Plan to get home safely
You have options:
Have a designated driver
Call a friend or loved one
Call a cab or ride-share
Take public transit
Stay over
Get help with drug abuse
Are you or someone you care about struggling with problematic substance use?
Here are some resources to help you find the assistance you need in your area.
Find helpParents: What can you do?
Parents play a vital role in teaching their kids to drive responsibly.
Here are some tips on talking to your child about drug-impaired driving.
Start a conversation7 reasons not to drive high
- You could hurt or kill someone you care about
- You could get in a crash, hurt yourself or die
- You could hurt or kill an innocent stranger
- You could get arrested and face trial
- You could get your license suspended
- You could get a criminal record
- Impaired driving is 100% preventable!
In their own words:
Stories from Canadians impacted by drug-impaired driving
Gregg Thomson woke up on a Sunday morning to find out that his 18 year old son Stanley had not come home after a night out with friends. The panic set in immediately and Thomson had a gut feeling that something was wrong, so he decided to call the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). "When I walked up to the OPP officers and they told me, I fell over… I just fell. The way it hits you, it's… when you lose a child, it brings a whole different set of emotions that before you've had this type of experience, you don't even understand." The night before, Stanley decided to get into a car with an individual who was under the influence of marijuana. Not only did Stanley lose his life that night, but the lives of those closest to him were changed forever. Feeling tremendous guilt and devastation, Thomson asked his daughter: "Where did your mum and I fail? Like why did Stanley get in the car that night?" His daughter explained that her parents had not failed, since they had "taught [them] well about alcohol and driving." The trouble was that these conversations did not include the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana.
Gregg Thomson
Ottawa, ON
"Drinking and driving is something that we as a society have been talking about for a long time. People know it's dangerous and illegal. But drugged driving isn't on everyone's radar yet. There are a lot of people who don't think driving while under the influence of a drug is as serious as driving while drunk. People don't realize the seriousness of it or the devastating consequences. But drugged driving is impaired driving. My family knows just how deadly drugged driving can be. We deal with the impact of it every single day."
Nancy Stewart
Oakville, ON
In an instant.
Download video MP4 (11.1 MB)Report a problem or mistake on this page
- Date modified: