With the holiday season in full swing, the provincial government is reminding Albertans to drive safe and sober this month.
“One of the great joys of the holiday season is celebrating with friends and family," said Alberta Minister of Transportation Ric McIver, in a statement. "It’s up to all Albertans to make sure our roads are safe. Please plan ahead and make smart choices – don’t drive while impaired and plan a safe ride home following holiday celebrations.”
Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs puts people at serious risk of injury and death, according to a statement from the government. Cannabis, prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication can be just as dangerous behind the wheel as alcohol, especially when taken in combination.
On average, roughly 6,000 people each year were convicted of impaired driving in Alberta from 2015 to 2019. In addition to charges of impaired driving, there are separate offences, such as having specified prohibited levels of alcohol, cannabis or certain other drugs in the blood within two hours of driving.
In Alberta, and in most other Canadian jurisdictions, a driver with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.05 and 0.079 may face provincial consequences through the Immediate Roadside Suspension Program. Cannabis limits, meanwhile, are measured by detecting minute traces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the bloodstream, referred to as nanograms.
Related information on impaired driving laws can be found at justice.gc.ca and Saferoads.com. For up-to-date road information and traffic delays, visit 511.alberta.ca, call 511 toll-free, (1-855-391-9743 outside Alberta) or follow @511Alberta on Twitter.
