Hooray for RIDE programs!

Renfrew one of worst areas for drunk driving convictions, Ottawa the best in Ontario

Rural Ontario residents have higher impaired driving rates than those in cities

Renfrew: 4: 1,000 convictions for impaired driving for every 1,000 licenced drivers
1.4: 1,000  in Ottawa.
1: 1,000 in Metro Toronto

The Global analysis found conviction rates were lowest in the central Toronto area that is bisected by the Yonge Street subway line.

The Booze hits the financial fan

I am very much impressed with this Muskoka news. In a landmark decision, the Lake Joseph club's liquor licence has been suspended by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission.

As I listened to the CBC Radio news report (cynical me!), I thought, 'Yes, perhaps in April - when few are about?'

Spring: March/April is a between season when lake ice is iffy, and towns are quiet. But, no, I am quite surprised that its licence is being suspended during the 'shoulder season' (June 1st) until part of Muskoka's peak season: July 16th.

Now, the restaurant won't be closed, but it will not be serving liquor during this time. Not too much of a tragedy, in my wee mind, since the only transportation access for this spiffy club is from lake or highway.

If you recall, the club was charged after the July 3, 2008 tragedy in which Tyler Mulcahy, 20, his girlfriend Nastasia Inez Elzinga, then 19, and friends Kourosh Totonchian, 19, and Cory Mintz, 20, spent part of an afternoon eating and drinking at the Water's Edge restaurant at the Lake Joseph Club in Minette. The four friends were served a total of 31 drinks that fateful afternoon. Quite a bit for 3 young people who had 15 number of traffic violations between them. We know how inhibitions are dulled with alcohol, and the driver had not shown much discretion when sober.

You can see this freewheeling couple on their motorcycle on Peninsula Road, passing us on a solid line, on this winding, typical Lake Joe area  road.

 
The photo shows the memorial at the accident site.
 
And, as I told a Globe and Mail reporter, Kate Hammer,  in an interview on the anniversary of the incident, 'nothing has been learned in the year since we lost three teenaged men in a drinking and unsafe driving incident a year ago, July 3, 2008'.

The problem is that the servers, trained in Smart Serve to withhold alcohol after patrons have had enough, must follow the policies of their managers and club owners. And this is an exclusive club for the privileged and rich. An overnight stay runs around $300/person (2009 rates)

It must be club policy to support the servers, often young people trying to earn a living, or paying their way through university. The onus must be on a club: managers and owners, to follow through. 
Three servers who worked at the club as well as ClubLink Corporation still face charges of permitting drunkenness.  There will be a status hearing on those charges in March.

Muskoka club gets licence pulled in crash
Toronto Star
After the accident, Tim Mulcahy, Tyler's father, purchased a full-page newspaper ad lobbying Premier Dalton McGuinty to implement restrictions for young

The Pie Ladies of Chatham

 CBC News - Canada - Sentencing delayed for drunk driver who killed ...

What a sad story. Will we ever be able to get drunk drivers off off the streets? It takes friends and family to intervene, I think.


Families of Chatham's 'Pie Ladies' donate alcohol tester to local police


ONTARIO - Family members of the Pie Ladies will be donating a roadside alcohol testing device to Chatham-Kent police next week. The donation will take place on Tuesday, the second anniversary of the crash which took the lives of Marion Dawson, Jean Ripley, Verna Neaves and Bernice Phillips.

MADD Canada, Chatham-Kent Chapter, will be making the donation on behalf of family members.


Wladyslaw Bilski, of Chatham, was sentenced to four years in prison for four counts of impaired driving causing death, along with a 10-year driving ban. The four elderly women, known as the Pie Ladies, were headed home from a church supper when Bilski slammed into them on Keil Drive in Chatham on Nov. 24, 2007.

Drowning by fishing, boating

I like to surprise people with posts! I felt that, with the summer season, as a mom/grandma, it is important to be cautious around water.

And, as I told a Globe and Mail reporter, Kate Hammer,  in an interview on Tuesday*, nothing has been learned in the year since we lost three teenaged men in a drinking and unsafe driving incident a year ago, July 3, 2008.

(*What remains by the lake - The Globe and Mail

"Nothing's changed," said Jennifer Jilks, a Muskoka cottager for more than 40 years...)

 The message in the bottle tells the story.

As I have been writing, we really can prevent these fatalities. Yes, we knew this. This is not new. Drowning is something that affects of of society.

• waterskiing without a spotter
• children swimming alone
• seniors swimming alone (a sector that is increasing due to demographics, and a stubborn independence!)
  
• inexperienced canoeists (two last year)
• inexperienced swimmers near a dam (one last year)
  
• Personal Watercraft (PWC) operators speeding
• people unfamiliar with boats (bad enough)
• fishing drunk (even worse)
  
• boating drunk (the worst)

We will not, as Cindy says, call these accidents, since they are self-inflicted wounds. Statistically-speaking, if you drink you have a strong chance of getting into trouble. If you do not wear a life jacket, you have a stronger chance of drowning. If you climb into a boat, or on a PWC, you do not know who is coming around the corner, or when your time is up.

As a retired teacher, I have seen a fair share of accidents. I am used to crowd control. Crowded lakes are not safe places. I am preoccupied with safety; you can read it in my blog. Living on a lake, as we do, - full time: rain snow, sleet or hail...I have seen the yahoos and heard the sirens as our tireless OPP and EMS crews respond. I can hear the OPP helicopter, as it screams south to take a patient to hospital. It breaks my heart as I know that the crews, the victim's families, and all of us will suffer for it.

While the Canadian Red Cross attributes alcohol as a factor in 34% of all drownings, in 30% of the cases they did not have any information on this factor. We do not know what we do not know! So far this summer all drownings have been males.

Fishing is the big one: 40% of all boating drownings, and 18% of all drowning activities. Do you know that alcohol is a factor in about half of these cases? Can you imagine why? After a day sitting around fishing and making a ruckus, then they go out on the water.

We see and hear them. For all of us - speak out. Stand up and be a friend. Tell that that what they are doing is wrong. Refuse to drink, boat, swim or allow them to hurt others this way. Their unborn children will thank you.


See also:

• Death by Drowning
• Accidents in Muskoka
• Drownings continue in Ontario

Many drownings related to alcohol, study says

July 8, 2009 - by Evan French

"A pair of newly released drowning trend reports, compiling 10 years of research by the Canadian Red Cross, show that boating fatalities make up 39 per cent of drowning victims, and alcohol is a factor in about half of the cases."

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.

violence and recrimination

I have just finished reading, by Jodi Picoult. It is a powerful story about violence and despair, as a mother seeks retribution for her pain. Perfect Match is the title.

Tim's Law, an idea promoted by the mother of the decapitated Tim McLean, wants execution or life for such murderers. Highly critical of the police in their immediate response, her response is a cry for blood. The author of this article, and I would agree, is concern for vengance, responsibility of the press to maintain editorial standards when describing death, or interviewing family members. Insanity? Criminal responsibility? These are complicated subjects. Retribution, revenge, or protecting society?

Our Bracebridge community is in shock with the Natalia Novak murder. We have seen that the balance between violence against women far exceeds our population statistics. Men are hunting women and the police have difficulty protecting us from partners, boyfriends and dysfunctional relationships.
As a mother of 3, I know that even if only one of our sons or daughters benefit from the lessons we learn, we mothers know that people like Brian Vallée, Tim Mulcahy, and Billie Mintz, are fine examples to us all. We need to take these violent acts and turn them into lessons to prevent such grief from tearing apart other families.

Matt Driscoll writes, "Family ‘outraged’ by verdict" and quotes the family members.

"Natalie was only one of many women and children killed at the hands of a violent male," the family said in its statement, noting that Ontario reported 121 women and 20 children murdered by male partners between 2002 and 2006.
"Poisoned dogs generate more press and sympathy than women and children murdered by violent men," they said.

Yet, anger and recriminations and law suits seem to be the norm, and capture the most media attention.
Tim Mulcahy started a petition on his son's memorial website to change the young drivers laws around speeding and alcohol when he learned his son was driving the car that killed him and his two friends. Billie Mintz is working at preventing such tragedies.
Another website counts the horrors of our time, but The Drunk Driving [M]asses also writes about driver fatigue, reports on drunk drivers, and provides an Education for the Driving Masses information site, where you can find tips, statistics, facts and data.


Tim #2 - Petition from The Message In The Bottle on Vimeo.

charges laid in Muskoka

It was a bad year for drownings in 2008, after one horrific accident (the photo of the crushed guard rail is telling-copyrighted to the Toronto Star) and we had more drownings later last summer.

I wrote, back on July 9th, 2008, about death by drowning after a drinking and driving incident that took the lives of 3 young men. The driver had had a number of driving violations, and really should not have been driving. He was charged with public drunkenness on Canada Day, July 1st. His father has been fighting for tougher licensing laws for young drivers. The 20-year old driver, and his two dead passengers, had a total of 15 traffic violations between them.

"The vehicle had hit and peeled back about 30 feet of guardrail, and had launched itself and snapped some pine trees off approximately 25 feet in the air," Jim Sawkins, fire chief for the Township of Muskoka Lakes, told CBC News. The 3 kids drowned. One (female) passenger escaped. She was quite lucky.

Driving habits in Central Ontario, while they cannot be any more outrageous than elsewhere, seem to reflect people who are in a rush to get to their destination, with little concern about the drivers around them. Some of the issues are the fact that enforcement of these laws is difficult, with laws that govern new drivers in a graduated licencing system that prohibits driving in the wee hours, and alcohol.

The big news this month, reported by The Globe, The Toronto Star, and the Bracebridge Examiner, says that 34 charges have been laid against the private, exclusive club, CLubLink Corporation, the board of directors, the manager and the servers that served the 3 young men and woman 31 drinks over the course of two or three hours.

The problem with these charges is that the servers, trained in Smart Serve to withhold alcohol after patrons have had enough, must follow the policies of their managers and club owners. A club manager in Toronto explained that those who are told they are cut off can become violent and he has been assaulted by such patrons. It has to be club policy to support the servers, often young people trying to earn a living, or paying their way through university. The onus must be on a club, with a reported membership fee of $62,500, and annual fees of nearly $5,000, to uphold the law and ensure that our roads are safe.

As long as the bottom line is profit, we will not be protected by those who continue to drink and drive. These charges bring home the idea that we are ALL responsible to ensure that our roads are safe: those who drink, speed, drive recklessly, their parents & friends who condone their behaviour, servers, bar owners, and the MTO that does not suspend those with violations.

Traffic Accidents in Canada

I saw the reports on the O.P.P. website. It was a rough Labour Day W/E weekend in Muskoka, the Central Region. Traffic accident death rates are down by 52% * over the past 25 years, 71% of those involved in traffic accidents are male. There are many reasons for the lowered rate: anti-lock braking, airbags, consistent use of seat belts and child restraints. The enforcement of speed limits, better legislation, and more vigilance protects all of us.

While the good news is that deaths are down, just one is just one is too many. The summer months are the worst. The impact on family is profound and obvious. The impact on friends is tremendous. Rural areas account for 62% of all collisions. I know that those in Muskoka seem to neglect simple things like turn signals, checking their blind spots, and driving sensible. The other day our family spotted two seperate incidents of drivers turning left across the road, while another drove to their left around similarly turning left. Road rage, driving while stoned, improperly installed child safety seats, the use of cellphones, and other technologies (i.e., GPS) while driving, contribute to the statistics.

On behalf of all residents and some visitors I say to our EMS crews: thanks for being there. When I see the OPP helicopter overhead I shudder. I know the recent Bala accident proved an especially difficult situation. Keep up the good work - it is not easy. Such accidents (on the railway tracks) have happened before - the last time I recall it happened I was a teenager, but I know it it happens too often.

We are all accountable: friends, family, bartenders and society, can help prevent such an incident, but ultimately it is the individual who is responsible. Social norms are changing, but we must help those who are vulnerable to addiction.

Motel room theft, drunk driving, assaults, all have some amount of alcohol involved. It is such a preventable problem. Let your friends know when they have had enough. Be strong and help them take responsibility. Their families will thank you.

~~~~~~~~~
*"Motor vehicle accident deaths, 1979 to 2004."