In the News

Step up fight against drunk drivers
Edmonton Sun
By Roy Clancy
December 6, 2009

When it comes to laws cracking down on impaired drivers, Alberta is only middle of the road.

But as far as alcohol-related deaths go, this province leads the pack, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

That's a startling contrast for our provincial politicians to mull over as they take a break for the holidays.

It's an issue Albertans should keep front of mind as they partake in the festivities.

'Tis the season to be merry.

But for too many of us, the joy will come to an abrupt end on a stretch of blacktop strewn with crushed metal and torn flesh, due to the sheer stupidity of drivers too drunk to stay in control of their vehicle.

It's no coincidence MADD chose this time of year to release its annual report rating the provinces on their drunk driving laws.

Never is there a more stark contrast between the happiness of families coming together to celebrate and those separated forever by premature death.

While Alberta ranks sixth out of 13 provinces and territories with a B-minus rating, the words accompanying the ranking are less kind.

"Disappointingly," says the blurb accompanying the report, Alberta and other laggard jurisdictions "have done little or nothing to strengthen their impaired driving laws in the last three years."

As the province twiddles its thumbs, the carnage increases, says MADD.

It takes a disproportionate toll on our youth.

Canadians aged 16 to 25 make up 13.2% of the population but 33.4% of alcohol-related traffic deaths.

In 2006, alcohol was a factor in 39.9% of traffic fatalities among 16-to-19 year olds and 52% among those aged 20 to 25.

That's why MADD wants the province to raise the minimum licensed driving age from 14, the lowest in Canada, to 16. It also wants to enact a 0% blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21, as well as for all new drivers.

And MADD is asking Alberta to toughen up roadside licence suspensions and start seizing the vehicles of multiple offenders.

Doing nothing is not an option, as the toll taken by drunk drivers continues to rise.

Even more troubling, surveys reveal the percentage of Canadians who reported driving after drinking in the last 30 days rose from 14.7% in 2005 to 18.1% in 2008.

"If we are to achieve even the modest goal of preventing further increases in impaired driving deaths and injuries, we need comprehensive provincial ... reform, combined with more intensive enforcement," says law professor Robert Solomon, MADD's director of legal policy,

That's a message our provincial legislators need seriously consider while they're sipping their eggnog, and one that will be irrevocably driven home to those whose loved ones' lives are brought to an untimely end by a drunk driver.

Also see...

Rating the Provinces