Edmonton police try to head off rise in drug-impaired driving

Edmonton police are trying to get ahead of an expected increase of drug-impaired driving.

"With the potential legalization of marijuana as well as a lot of prescription drug abuse happening, that focus needs to get to the forefront right now," Const. Katherine Nelson said.

"I believe statistically, 35 to 40 per cent of our impaired fatalities in this city have some kind of a link to drugs or is caused solely by drug impairment."

On Monday Nelson demonstrated a sobriety test on a volunteer wearing a suit that simulates drug impairment.

"There are instruments to screen or detect impairment by drugs we use on the street level as police officers," she said.

"However we do have what you saw today, our standardized sobriety tests as well as drug recognition evaluations to actually prove impairment to lay charges."

Ford's Driving Skills For Life Program targets young drivers. It owns the suit which consists of padding, weights, flashing light goggles, and headphones to simulate the slower reaction time, distorted vision, and other effects of impairment.

"This suit is really interesting because it can really demonstrate what the effects of drug and alcohol are without having to try them," Nelson said.

Coun. Bev Esslinger said she'd like to see the drug-driving suit used in Edmonton high schools.

Esslinger's brother was killed by a drunk driver nearly 30 years ago.

"You lose that person. He was the father of young children," she said. "He never saw them grow up, didn't see them graduate or get married. That's a tragedy."

Ford's Driving Skills For Life program, which includes the suit, will make it first appearance in Edmonton in 2017.

@Travismcewancbc