Montreal, Canada, July 2011
Many countries are beginning to undertake research and develop solutions to deal effectively with the problem of drugs and driving. In July 2011, in an effort to foster collaboration, CCSA co-hosted the first international symposium on drugs and driving in Montreal, supported by the following key partners:
The success of the symposium has led to the advancement of a more unified response that aims to guide further research and evidence-informed prevention programs, and to lay the groundwork for continued international dialogue in a new host country in 2012.
The symposium agenda focused on six themes and featured expert panellists from a broad spectrum, including remarks from Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety; Sandeep Chawla, Director of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy; and Piotr Jablonski, representing the current Polish Presidency of the European Union.
Symposium Summary now available:
Presentations also available for download:
Panel 1: Nature and magnitude of the drugs-and-driving problem (What do we know?)
Panellists from different geographic regions (U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia) discussed what we know about the extent of the drugs-and-driving problem.
Panel 2: Legislative/policy options (What are we doing now?)
Panellists outlined the advantages and limitations of the major approaches to controlling driving while under the influence of drugs (e.g., impairment-based statutes, per se laws, zero tolerance).
Panel 3: Detection, deterrence and enforcement of drug-impaired driving (How do we do it?)
Panellists highlighted what is being done in different countries and how these efforts might be improved.
Panel 4: Prevention (What more can we do?)
Panellists illustrated various approaches to prevention.