Police in Quebec are reporting a ten per cent increase in the number of impaired drivers arrested over the holidays.
They report that from Nov. 24, 2016 until Jan 2, 2017, more than 1,715 people were arrested across the province for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The arrests were made during 2,400 checkpoints on roads spread around Quebec.
Police said what is notable is that the number of drivers being stopped for drug use is increasing.
The Sûreté du Québec has trained 2,600 officers to spot people who are high on marijuana or other drugs. Those who are arrested are then brought in for blood samples to confirm the roadside diagnosis.
“In the Sûreté du Québec, we have about 2500 drug recognition evaluators formed since 2010,” said spokesperson Marc Denis.
Lasr year, the SQ arrested nearly 300 people for driving under the influence of drugs.
Many organizations are concerned the impending legalization of cannabis will lead to even more drivers getting behind the wheel while stoned.
They are calling for a massive public awareness campaign about the dangers of driving while high on marijuana.
A 2015 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States showed that drivers who tested positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, were up to three times more likely to crash than those who were sober.
Colorado and Washington State both witnessed a noticeable spike in drug-related driving offences after marijuana was legalized.
“We're very worried. We're very frightened by these statistics. We know the death rates have gone up. We know that drug-impaired driving has even surpassed alcohol driving in the death rate,” said Theresa Anne Kramer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD.
Right now police forces in Quebec use a series of visual tests to determine if a person might be under the influence. If they have strong suspicions, the suspect can be taken in for further examination and police can request a urine test.
MADD say they're lobbying for more efficient methods to spot and arrest drivers who are on drugs.
“About 84 per cent of young people are admitting to getting into the car with someone who smoked marijuana within the hour,” said Kramer.
