Drinking & Driving laws in Ontario

While some may think this post better belongs in My Reflections & Musings blog, I believe that the party attitude of cottage country needs an alignment. I have blogged a few times here about the tragic accidents that continue to occur, many due to drinking and driving and speed. Many seasonal visitors feel they are up here for R & R. Others, full time residents with no options for public transportation, must drive. For those in the north many must drive long distances to work. This concerns me.

It concerns our OPP, too. I regularly see RIDE stops as they check for drunk drivers, and often see the charges laid, as they have these people step out of their cars a half block down from the beer store. But too many get away with this. Read more details about real people with real stories at The Drunk Driving Masses. They state: "Health Canada estimates that 1690 Canadians die and 74,000 are injured each year."

Our new legislation: if your blood alcohol level is between 0.05 and 0.08, called the 'warn range', will have a three-day licence suspension. Over the limit and the car is impounded. Full details are here on the government site.

The Ministry's newswire states that we are making progress: over the last 10 years traffic fatalities have dropped 20%, despite an increase of licenced drivers of 20%. Our street racing laws (more than

If you are convicted of a drunk driving offence in Canada, the penalties are serious:

• Minimum one-year driving prohibition;
• Fine ranging from $600 to $2000;
• Ignition interlock for at least one year (rental cost about $1200 annually);
• Mandatory attendance at a remedial program at a cost of about $500 prior to licence reinstatement; and
• A criminal record.

For those with licence is suspensions this has a huge impact on both care insurance (double?), when premiums come around for renewal, as well as life insurance, which can be totally denied.
What strikes me is that those who continue to drink and drive, without a licence and, potentially, without insurance will be those who have a serious impact on us and can turn us from not only victims but affect our physical and financial health.

I found some US-based stats, which can be extrapolated to Canada:

• "Between 60% and 80% of drivers with suspended licenses continue to drive." - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (US)
  
• "14% of all intoxicated drivers in fatal crashes have a current suspended or revoked license." - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(US).
• "Half of all convicted drunken drivers who lose licenses don't reapply when they become eligible." - National Public Service Research Institute. (US)

In an article by MADD, they say, "Matt Brownlee, who served seven years for drunk driving causing the deaths of Linda LeBreton-Holmes and her 12-year-old son, Brian, in suburban Ottawa was again charged this month with drunk driving and driving without a licence."

I lived in the area at the time, and friends and neighbours knew his licence was suspended, it was in all the papers, yet he continued to drive. This kind of addiction cannot be changed without interventions. We know that addicts will drive. We need better and more stringent requirements. Perhaps a data base with the licence plates of those with driving licence suspensions. We cannot continue to allow such people on the roads. Friends and family must become involved. It is society's issue. Drinking and driving is a social behaviour, especially on holidays, or in summer. Surely, we can all be more vigilant. This behaviour must be reported.

On-line, lawyers brag about getting drunk driving charges dropped. See: Man Charged With Impaired Driving of an ATV . This testimonial exacerbates this problem. I cannot see the ethical and moral reasoning in celebrating this issue. The testimonial (left sidebar) by this drunk celebrates the fact that he got off the charge. The OPP must be so frustrated. Let's give them some help. Take their keys, car pool, sleep over.