Impaired and distracted driving cause a large share of serious collisions, and the penalties are severe.
- Zero tolerance: G1 (and G2) drivers must have zero blood alcohol and zero presence of drugs while driving.
- Impairment: alcohol and many drugs, including cannabis and some prescription medications, slow reaction time, blur judgment, and reduce coordination.
- Distracted driving: handheld phone use while driving is illegal; texting, eating, or looking away all take attention from the road.
- Fatigue: drowsy driving impairs you much like alcohol. If you are tired, stop and rest.
- Penalties: impaired or distracted driving convictions bring fines, demerit points, licence suspension, and for new drivers can end the licensing process.
Common mistake: believing a hands-free call is risk-free. Hands-free is legal but still divides your attention. The safest call is the one you do not take while driving.
🧠 Memory hook, "zero means zero": for a G1 driver there is no allowed amount of alcohol or drugs, not one drink, not any.
Recall: What blood alcohol level is allowed for a G1 driver? Name two forms of distraction besides phone use.