Beginner Driver Education · Attention
Understanding Myths and Facts About Impaired Driving and Alcohol Effects
Driviology Road Safety Education Team
What this actually means for you
Driving asks for your attention in a way almost nothing else in daily life does — full, continuous, and for the whole trip, not just the tricky parts. Some drivers believe that if they are impaired, they will drive slowly and reach their destination safely. It cannot be faked or crammed the night before a test. It is a habit you either build in your first months of driving or spend years unlearning the opposite.
Myths and Facts About Impaired Driving | Alcohol and Cannabis Effects
I will drive slowly
Some drivers believe that if they are impaired, they will drive slowly and reach their destination safely. It is far from the truth; moving slowly, especially on highways, is extremely dangerous and can get them in trouble with the police.
By driving slowly, the driver makes it difficult for vehicles behind them. They may begin to tailgate or aggressively overtake them.
If the driver is impaired, stay away from the wheel.
The same applies to taking back roads.
If he can, so can I
Some people think that if one person can drive after having a drink, they should.
The driver must realize that everyone is different and responds to situations differently.
For example, alcohol – one driver may remain attentive and focused with a 0.08 BAC. However, another driver may be unable to open his eyes with a 0.02 BAC.
The driver must know their limits and accommodate them accordingly. Do not take any chances with safety.
Sobering up
It can take up to three hours for the effects of alcohol to kick in fully. The time it takes to sober up depends on the individual, which can take up to 24 hours.
The driver must be aware of their capacity, know how their body reacts to alcohol, and accommodate accordingly.
Also, it will take time to sober up. Drinking water or ‘'recovery fluids will not help; you must not drive thinking you have sobered up.
Peer pressure
Some people may think they have no choice when faced with pressure from friends to drink.
The driver always has a choice; they can deflect their requests with any excuse and accept that the driver will not drink while driving.
If the driver does end up drinking, ensure they arrange for another mode of transport.
Wine
Some people consider wine to be less alcoholic than other drinks. However, this is false; wine is just as capable as any other drink of disorienting the driver.
Please do not underestimate alcohol when mixing it with driving.
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Using cannabis and alcohol together is the same as having a couple of drinks. | When together. Cannabis and alcohol can result in unpredictable reactions, increasing your risk of collisions. |
| Caffeine for food helps you sober up. | There are no tricks to speed up the elimination of alcohol - only time will help you sober up. |
| Using eye drops, mints, and cologne will mask cannabis use. | Police Examine the size of pupils and eye movement that cannot be masked. The eyes give you away. |
| Police can't tell if I have been smoking cannabis or doing some other drugs. | Police utilize a 12-step process to detect the presence of drugs. |
| It's my medicine. So it's okay to take when driving. | Impaired is impaired. Regardless of whether it is prescribed medication or another drug. If unsure how your medication could impair your driving, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. |
| Guests have been drinking and using drugs at my party. But once they leave, it's not my problem. | Suppose your guests leave your home and drive while impaired. You can hold them responsible if they injure themselves or someone else. |
| A drink is a drink - for both men and women. | Gender, weight, age, mood and what you eat impact how alcohol affects a person. |
| Using cannabis edibles is the same as smoking or vaping. | Edibles take longer for their effects to be felt and can lead to consuming higher doses with unexpected side effects like severe anxiety, paranoia, fatigue, etc. |
| I am a better, less aggressive driver when I am high. | Any substances that change your mental state significantly decrease driving performance by decreasing your awareness of distance, time, and depth perception. |
Source: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/pdfs/impaired-is-impaired-screen.pdf
Using this on Ontario roads — and on your road test
Ontario law treats this seriously: distracted driving penalties are steep, and novice drivers face licence suspensions on top of fines. But the legal risk is honestly the smaller one — a car at 60 km/h covers the length of a basketball court in about two seconds, and a lot can step into that space. In the GTA the demands never stop: transit stops, cyclists, pedestrians looking at their own phones, delivery riders filtering through traffic. Set the car up before you move — seat, mirrors, phone away and silent, route planned — so that once you are rolling, your attention has only one job.
Questions drivers ask us
Can you explain myths and facts about impaired driving and alcohol effects in simple terms?
If the driver is impaired, stay away from the wheel.
What should new drivers know about if he can, so can i?
Some people think that if one person can drive after having a drink, they should.
Can I fail a road test for looking at my phone?
Reaching for a phone while driving is a serious error and, on Ontario roads, a serious offence — for novice drivers it can mean a licence suspension, not just a fine. On a test, your phone should be away and silent from the moment you get in the car.
What should new drivers know about peer pressure?
Some people may think they have no choice when faced with pressure from friends to drink.