The Northeast Region of the OPP is reminding drivers that taking the “high” road is not a safe alternative to drinking and driving. Police say this year alone almost 60 people have been killed where drug impaired driving played a factor.
Staff Sergeant Baldassare Nuccio with the James Bay Detachment says in our region about the same amount of people get charged with driving impaired by alcohol as they do with drugs. Nuccio says any drug whether it’s illegal or not, if it impairs your ability to drive it’s against the law.
With the OPP’s annual Festive RIDE campaign underway, police are reminding drivers that driving high is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol and the same penalties apply. Police say they hope to see every driver that’s pulled over sober and drug free. The OPP says many people think that if you’re not on the road you can’t be charged with impaired driving, however that’s not the case.
Nuccio says if you’re driving any motor vehicle even if it’s a lawnmower on your own property, if you’re under the influence you could be charged with impaired driving. The same applies to anyone on ATV’s or snowmobiles.
Police say many people think there’s no way to determine if a driver is under the influence of drugs, which is also a common misconception. Nuccio says through the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program officers are trained to as Drug Recognition Evaluators giving them the tools needed to detect drivers impaired by drugs.
