Changes to Canada's Impaired Driving Legislation

In May, the House of Commons justice committee released its proposals on revising the Criminal Code sections on impaired driving. Many of the proposed amendments are in line with the Canada Safety Council=s recommendations. If they are applied and enforced C and if the public is aware of them C they will help in the fight against impaired driving.

However, that is a very big Aif.@ Resources dedicated to impaired driving have always been inadequate when weighed against the threat posed by these offenders.

Canadians must not be fooled into thinking that hard core drinking drivers will suddenly be motivated to obey a newer, tougher law. Offenders who habitually drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least twice the legal limit pose the most serious risk to society. The committee=s report does not adequately recognize this problem. Will its proposed amendments help reduce the carnage caused by these dangerous drivers? We will see.

The last amendments, back in 1985, proved ineffective, as discussed in my April column.

Of the 3,064 fatalities on Canadian roads in 1997, about 40 per cent were alcohol-related. This represents over 1,200 deaths. An estimated 16 million impaired driving incidents occur in Canada every year. In 1997, police laid over 84,000 charges for impaired operation of a vehicle. In 1994, convictions for impaired driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 80 mg% resulted in 14,118 prison sentences (median 21 days, longest sentence 1,825 days).

This represents a huge cost to Canadians C likely upwards of $16 billion. Federal, provincial and municipal governments should get together and invest a mere 10 per cent of this amount in prevention over and above current expenditures, human, financial and otherwise.

I=m not talking about research. Good research is already available. I=m talking about practical, proven preventive programs, including enforcement and public education. The long-term impact of such an investment on Canada=s greatest social evil would be very significant.

We applaud this government=s efforts (after 14 years) to amend the law. We hope the amended law will be backed by the resources and commitment needed to make it effective.

Emile-J. Therien
President
Canada Safety Council

House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Report 21, Toward Eliminating Impaired Driving, tabled in the House on May 25, 1999

House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Report 21, Toward Eliminating Impaired Driving, tabled in the House on May 25, 1999