Get tougher on drunk driving
Times Colonist - Editorial
March 2, 2009

There is no argument about drinking and driving. We all know it is bad, because alcohol impairs our judgment and slows our reaction times. We know drinking and driving do not mix.

That is why the number of convictions for driving with a blood alcohol level higher than .08 has been dropping, and why police report that their roadblocks are finding fewer and fewer drunk drivers every year.

In the four decades since the .08 rule was introduced by the federal government, we have seen a dramatic change in attitudes toward drinking and driving. That is good news, and as a result our roads are safer, especially at night.

The fight is not over, however. Every week there are more accidents with alcohol cited as a contributing factor, and too many people are dying each year because of the carnage caused by alcohol.

All provinces other than Quebec have laws that allow police to suspend the licences of drivers caught with alcohol readings of .05 or more.

Effectively, the maximum allowable is not as high as the specified federal limits.

Last week, the House of Commons justice committee began hearings on whether the federal government should lower its legal limit for impaired driving to the .05 level.

If the federal government acts, the legislation would be consistent across Canada. That would make it easier to understand, and easier to enforce, especially in areas that are vacation destinations and attract people from other jurisdictions.

Federal action would also mean that anyone driving with a blood alcohol level of .05 or more would come under the provisions of the Criminal Code. Anyone convicted would, as a result, have a criminal record.

Is that too severe? Should the penalties specified in the Criminal Code for being over .08 -- a one-year driving ban and a $1,000 fine -- apply to drivers stopped for being over .05? Or should they be set at lower levels?

The committee members will need to consider their choices carefully, because the impact could have an impact on the way we live and, in some cases, die.

They should know that a person weighing 100 pounds can hit .08 with just two drinks in an hour. A person weighing 140 pounds hits that level with just three.

Other countries have noted the damage that alcohol can do, and have set limits much lower than those in Canada. Most European countries are at .05, but there are exceptions, including Sweden at .02 and Hungary and Slovakia, both at .00.

That makes sense, because the only safe driving limit is no alcohol at all. Impairment can begin with just one glass of beer, wine or spirits.

We would have no argument with any move toward tougher laws, and tougher penalties, provided the police and the courts are prepared for the increase (temporary, we are sure) in business.

We would also like to see more emphasis placed on the other factors that can impair a driver's judgment. There is a long list of distractions, including using drugs, drinking coffee, chatting on cellphones, lighting cigarettes and much more.

All of these can result in momentary lapses of reason -- which can be just enough to cause an accident.

There is no doubt that our roads have become safer since the government got tough on drinking and driving in the early 1970s.

The fight is not yet over -- so it is time for more stringent laws.

Also see...

For more information on 0.05% BAC, please see MADD Canada’s Reforming the Federal Impaired Driving Legislation: Next Steps.