The Road Safety Monitor (RSM) is a unique, annual public opinion survey that takes the pulse of the nation on key traffic safety issues and tracks changes in behaviours, attitudes, and opinions of Canadians by means of a telephone and on-line survey of a random, representative sample of Canadian drivers. More than 40 years of research has proven that the risks associated with driving while under the influence of alcohol are substantial, resulting in widespread recognition of this social problem. However, there is less concrete evidence regarding the prevalence, risks and implications of drugged driving, or drug-impaired driving. At the same time, there are indications that the problem is a growing source of concern. Consequently, the issue of drug-impaired driving has emerged as an internationally recognized problem in the past decade, bringing with it competing perspectives, misconceptions and diverse opinions about how to address it.
National trends are summarized in TIRF’s Road Safety Monitor 2020: Trends in Marijuana Use Among Canadian Drivers. According to RSM data, driving within two hours of using marijuana remains problematic as shown in the level of public concern two years post-legalization in Canada. A 36.4% increase in the number of drivers who admitted to driving within two hours of using marijuana suggests the risks associated with this behaviour are not well-understood, and misperceptions about drugged driving persist.
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