Photo: Hinto, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chapter 7 of ICBC’s Learn to Drive Smart covers the things that go wrong inside the driver rather than on the road: tiredness, phones, anger, alcohol, cannabis, friends who push you, and drivers who scare you. For BC learner (L) and novice (N) drivers the legal line is simple: zero alcohol, zero drugs including THC, and no electronic devices at all. This guide gives the rules, then the practical scripts ICBC suggests for each situation.
Key facts for BC new drivers
- L and N drivers: zero blood alcohol and zero blood drug concentration, including THC.
- Any alcohol, THC or cocaine can bring a 12-hour roadside suspension, with further penalties possible.
- No hand-held or hands-free devices for L and N drivers. The only exception is calling 9-1-1 to report an emergency.
- Only time lowers your blood alcohol. At .08, Transport Canada says it takes about six hours to return to zero.
- The Criminal Code offence for THC starts at 2 ng per mL of blood, for every driver.
Can you drive after using cannabis in BC on an L or N?
No. L and N drivers may not have any THC in their system while driving, and the same applies to other listed drugs. The zero rule continues for the 12-month restricted period after the Driving Record Assessment.
- Police can use saliva drug screening at the roadside, then require a blood test.
- A GLP driver with alcohol, THC or cocaine in their body can be served a 12-hour suspension, which cannot be reviewed.
- For any driver, 2 to 5 ng of THC carries a fine of up to $1,000 under the Criminal Code. Above 5 ng, fines start at $1,000. Repeat offences can mean jail.
- Convictions can add the Driver Risk Premium and Driver Penalty Point premium.
ICBC lists how cannabis affects driving: trouble tracking moving vehicles and pedestrians, misreading visual cues, and slower responses in emergencies. Combining it with even a little alcohol makes impairment much worse.
Full penalty details: penalty points, Driver Risk Premium and prohibitions and impaired driving in Canada for new drivers.
Alcohol myths ICBC wants you to drop
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Coffee, food, a cold shower or exercise will sober me up. | Only time lowers your BAC. |
| Beer affects you less than other drinks. | A glass of beer has the same alcohol as a glass of wine or an average cocktail. |
| I feel fine, so I can drive. | Alcohol makes you think your judgment is sharp when it isn’t. For an L or N, any amount is illegal anyway. |
Police can prohibit any driver whose ability is affected by alcohol or drugs, even below .08 BAC or 2 ng THC.
Medicines and other drugs
- Over-the-counter allergy, cough, cold and nausea medicines can cause drowsiness and poor attention.
- Sedatives, tranquillizers, painkillers and some antidepressants can affect alertness, concentration and reaction time, for many hours.
- Read the label. If it warns of drowsiness or dizziness, don’t drive. Taking more than one medicine? Ask a pharmacist about the combined effect.
- Street drugs can cause hallucinations, altered perception, a feeling of invincibility and poor judgment.
Phones and devices: the BC rules
All BC drivers are banned from holding, viewing or operating a hand-held phone, texting or emailing, using hand-held music or gaming devices, or programming a GPS by hand while driving. This applies even when you are stopped at a red light or in traffic.
L and N drivers go further: no hands-free use either, apart from calling 9-1-1 in an emergency. One device ticket is $368 and 4 points, and triggers a review of a GLP driver’s record. Details in BC N licence rules.
What works
- Switch the phone off and put it out of reach before you start.
- Give your phone to a passenger and make them the designated texter.
- Set your route and music before you move. To change them, pull over and stop.
- Plan “text stops” at highway rest areas on long trips.
Staying awake and fit to drive
Fatigue slows every part of see-think-do: you scan less, think more slowly and react later. ICBC’s strategies:
- Start rested. Don’t drive too far in one go.
- Take breaks and walk around. Eat, but avoid heavy meals.
- Keep the heat moderate and a window open.
- Pull into a rest stop for a nap, with the doors locked.
- On a two-day trip, take extra care on the second day, when tiredness is most likely to hit.
- On long, unchanging highways, watch for highway hypnosis: turn off cruise control and keep scanning.
Sick? Even a cold can reduce alertness. Take the bus or get a lift. About 80 per cent of driving information comes through your eyes, so wear your glasses or contacts if you need them, and keep the stereo low enough to hear sirens.
Anger, stress and road rage
Keeping yourself calm
- Leave earlier. If you leave late, you arrive late.
- Choose routes that avoid heavy traffic.
- Admit how you feel, take deep breaths, loosen your grip on the wheel.
- If you can’t focus, don’t drive.
When another driver is aggressive
- Give them room and the right-of-way. Don’t return aggression, gesture or make eye contact.
- If you feel threatened, drive to a police station or a busy public place, such as a shopping mall.
- Don’t drive home.
- Keep doors locked and windows closed. Have a passenger call police so you can keep driving.
- If someone tries to get into your car, sound the horn to draw attention.
Not being the cause
Keep a generous following distance, signal early, move over for merging traffic, don’t block passing lanes, pull over to let a queue pass, use low beams unless the road is unlit, and use the horn only when necessary.
Peer pressure: ICBC’s four steps
Scenario: you promised to be the designated driver, and a new friend keeps pushing you to have a drink.
- Identify the problem: drinking breaks your promise and, on an L or N, the law.
- Think about the consequences: crash risk, injury, a roadside suspension, lost N time.
- Identify alternatives: “Next time, when I’m not driving.”
- Follow through: stay sober and offer your friends a ride home.
Pressure also comes from other drivers and from the cars you see in ads and films. A horn behind you, a tailgater or traffic going faster than the limit is no reason to take a gap you are unsure of or to speed. Base each decision on safety, and know the limits of your own skills and your vehicle.
Unsafe passengers and unsafe drivers
When your passengers are distracting
- Don’t move until everyone is wearing a seatbelt.
- Tell passengers before you set off that you need to concentrate.
- Use humour to settle a rowdy car. Secure pets in a carrier.
- Remember the N limit: one passenger unless they are immediate family or a qualified supervisor is beside you.
- Smoking in a vehicle is illegal in BC whenever a passenger under 16 is on board.
When you are a passenger with a scary driver
- Try humour first.
- Use an “I” statement: “I’m feeling pretty nervous. Could you slow down for me?”
- Offer to take a turn driving.
- Ask the other passengers how they feel, to get their support.
- Be firm.
- If nothing works, ask to be let out.
Never ride with a driver who may be impaired. Agree a designated driver before going out, keep money for a bus or taxi, or call someone.
Organ Donor Registry
ICBC’s handbook closes this chapter with the BC Organ Donor Registry. Since 1997 the registry, not a decal on your licence, records your decision. You can register online with BC Transplant, by phone, or with a form from an ICBC driver licensing office, claim centre or Autoplan broker.
Common questions
How long after smoking cannabis can an N driver in BC drive?
ICBC gives no safe waiting time. The rule is zero THC in your system while driving, and effects vary between people. If in doubt, don’t drive.
Can I drive the morning after drinking on my N?
Only if your BAC is back to zero. At .08 that takes about six hours, according to Transport Canada, and nothing speeds it up.
Can I use Bluetooth to answer a call from my parents?
Not on an L or N. Pull over and stop safely first.
Does cold medicine count as impaired driving?
It can. Police can prohibit you if drugs affect your ability to drive, and ICBC warns that over-the-counter medicines can cause drowsiness and slow reactions. Read the label first.
Is a passenger allowed to drink in my car?
BC liquor and cannabis laws set separate rules on carrying and consuming alcohol and cannabis in vehicles. Check the current rules with the Government of BC before you drive.
Back to the full guide: Learning to drive in BC. Related: emergency strategies for BC drivers.
Sources
- ICBC, “Learn to Drive Smart, Chapter 7: Personal strategies” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Learn to Drive Smart, Chapter 9: Your licence” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Drug-affected driving laws and penalties” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Distracted driving” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Graduated licensing” (icbc.com)
- Government of British Columbia, RoadSafetyBC, “Alcohol and drug related driving prohibitions and suspensions” (gov.bc.ca)