A new province-wide survey suggests that the number of British Columbians getting seriously drunk -- or high -- before driving is on the rise.
The Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse conducted roadside surveys of more than 2,800 drivers in five B.C. communities, and found that fewer people are drinking alcohol before driving. About 10 per cent of drivers tested had any alcohol in their blood, down from more than 18 per cent in 1995.
But the researchers also found that the number of drivers caught with blood alcohol levels over the legal limit of .08 had increased to 2.4 per cent -- up from 1.9 per cent in 2003.
"That's a significant increase in the proportion of people who are legally impaired out on the roads at night," the CCSA's Doug Beirness told CTV News.
The researchers also found an alarming number of drugged drivers -- 7.2 per cent had drugs besides alcohol in their systems.
"Certainly cannabis is number one, there's no question about it, but we have drivers out on the road after using cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiate narcotics and benzodiazapines as well," Beirness said.
The surveys were conducted in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Saanich, Prince George and Kelowna -- Kelowna drivers were the most likely to be drunk or stoned.
"The repeat offenders that we are getting are the old hardcore drinkers that ... don't see the harm that they are doing to the community. They think they're only hurting themselves and they don't see the whole picture," Kelowna RCMP Const. Bob Charron said.
The results can be deadly. When the blood alcohol levels of drivers who died behind the wheel were tested, 37 per cent had alcohol in their system, while 32 per cent had consumed other drugs.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat
