Impaired Driving

Information relating to impaired driving.

REPORT - Administrative Alcohol and Drug Related Driving Prohibitions

BC LogoDriving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs continues to be a significant problem in British Columbia, our Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) notwithstanding. While it has saved lives, we still have a long way to go. RoadSafetyBC (the new name of the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles) publishes data on the IRP program for the public's review.

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Using Mouthwash to Hide Liquor Breath

MouthwashBefore the advent of the roadside screening device the use of mouthwash to hide the odour of liquor on a driver's breath was not unheard of. Today using a mouthwash containing alcohol as you approach a road check can be a very dangerous thing to do. The alcohol present in your mouth from the mouthwash could produce a warn or fail reading on the device when your true blood alcohol level is less.

CASE LAW - Basi v The Superintendent of Motor Vehicles

BC Courts Coat of ArmsSpencer Basi was stopped while driving a motor vehicle under the influence of marihuana. A Standardized Field Sobriety Test was conducted after an initial questioning by the arresting officer. Mr. Basi showed symptoms consistent with marihuna impairment, was prohibited from driving for 24 hours and had his vehicle impounded for a similar time period.

RESEARCH - One Drink May Impair Older Drivers

Keys and DrinkA study by researchers at the University of Florida reports that "You may have only had one glass of wine with dinner, but if you’re 55 or older, that single serving may hit you hard enough to make you a dangerous driver." Groups of young drivers and older drivers were tested on a driving simulator sober and with blood alcohol levels of .04 and .065.

VIDEO - The Cell

VideoAustralia's Transport Accident Commission in Victoria state has published The Cell, an anti-drugged driving video that is part of a TV advertising campaign there. In their typically hard hitting style the video shows a young male driver taking drugs at a party and the consequences of that choice on the drive home afterward.

Designated Drivers Must Obey Restrictions

New Driver SignsDrivers who are part of B.C.'s Graduated Licencing Program (GLP) are limited to the number of passengers that they are allowed to carry by a restriction on their driver's licence. This restriction is designed to minimize the driver distraction that might be caused by a carload of rambunctious friends. The only exception to this restriction is when the passengers are family members.

Alcohol and the Learner Driver Supervisor

New Driver SignsYou may have seen last week's minor media tempest regarding a grandfather who had consumed a few drinks and then hopped into the passenger seat to supervise his grandson, the learner driver. They encountered a police road check and grandpa found himself on the receiving end of an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) for blowing a fail. Who would have thought that the supervisor of a new driver needed to be sober?