Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics
Whereas, in the past, the process of becoming well-informed on any given issue was simply a matter of finding the information you needed, today, we’re faced with a very different issue: an issue of inundation. With modern media, so much apparent knowledge is available with so little effort that the challenge becomes deciding which statistics are reliable and truthful. A good Ontario lawyer with first hand experience securing car accident benefits knows better than most the realities of the road. But how does the average person’s perception of road safety in Canada compare?
Impairment Caused by Drugs and Alcohol
Last year, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators published research on Canadian’s perception of various aspects of road safety. This research was incorporated into the Road Safety Strategy 2015, a national initiative to discover the best practices for jurisdictions responsible for road safety. One question in the survey asked Canadians to rate their agreement, on a scale of 1-7, regarding whether a drug has an impairing effect on drivers, with 1 as ‘strongly disagree’ and 7 as ‘strongly agree’.
- Percentage of Canadians who ‘Strongly Agree’ that Driving is Impaired with the Use of:
- Drugs like cocaine or methamphetamines: 83%
- Alcohol: 81%
- Marijuana: 66%
- Prescription drugs such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives, antidepressants, or sedating antihistamines: 51%
While, as expected, an overwhelming majority of Canadians believed that hardcore drugs and alcohol impair driving abilities, a somewhat lower percentage of people believe the same of marijuana. However, recent studies have shown that driving under the influence of marijuana doubles the risk of a car crash.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
To receive the car accident benefits that you deserve after a crash, you’ll need the best personal injury attorneys available. They know the facts, not just the perceptions, and, with a free personal consultation, they can get you the car accident benefits you need.
Source:
http://ccmta.ca/images/publications/pdf//Forum_Survey_Report-September_16_2014.pdf
http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Cannabis-Use-and-Driving-Report-2015-en.pdf