Think a police officer can't tell if you're driving stoned?

Think again.

SGI's Traffic Safety Spotlight for the month of August is on impaired driving, with a special focus on catching high drivers.

“There are drug recognition evaluators right across Saskatchewan and these are extensively trained individuals that use a very rigorous scientific 12-step process that can determine whether somebody is impaired, and if they find that you’re impaired, that evidence can be used in court to support an Impaired Driving charge,” said Tyler McMurchy with SGI.

He noted that alcohol is not the only substance that impairs drivers.

“Even if you have no alcohol in your system, if you are impaired by drugs, there are police out there on the roads that can catch you so we want people to know that whether you’re impaired by alcohol or drugs, if you are impaired, you should not be behind the wheel of a motor vehicle,” he said.

He added that the government has passed new laws regarding how testing will be done at the roadside.

“There is also new legislation that came in through the federal government and through the provincial government to reflect the fact that there are going to be roadside drug tests being used by police using a roadside saliva tester, so the new legislation reflects that as well,” said McMurchy.

He advises that, since the side effects of the cannabis can affect your ability to drive, the best plan is to avoid driving while under the influence of any substance.