October 2007

 

New Road Laws Affect Drinking Drivers

In Ontario each year, about 16,000 people — about two people each hour — are convicted of drinking and driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08. Moreover, approximately 25% of road fatalities are alcohol-related.

Bill 203, new legislation recently announced through Ontario's Ministry of Transportation, works towards making Ontario's roads safer by targeting drinking drivers and street racers. The new legislation targeting impaired driving is planned to take effect in late 2008 and will include:

1. Creating escalating administrative sanctions for repeat drinking drivers measuring 0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (the "warn" range)

   1. First instance: driver suspended for three days.

   2. Second instance: driver suspended for seven days and must undergo remedial measures course.

   3. Third or subsequent instance: driver suspended for 30 days, must undergo remedial measures course, and have ignition interlock condition on their licence for six months.

2. Measures to increase installation of ignition interlock devices by convicted offenders.

3. Allowing the use of the civil forfeiture law to take vehicles away from people who continue to drink and drive.

The announcement of this new legislation comes on the heels of MADD Canada's 2007 Progress Report [PDF], in which the organization says although there is "real progress", in the fight against drunk driving with tougher laws, there is still room for improvement

Dr. Robert Solomon, Director of Legal Policy for MADD Canada, recommends that governments need to focus on strengthening their graduated licensing programs and to enable and apply existing legislation related to impaired driving. MADD Canada's CEO Andrew Murie adds that more focus should be put towards youth, outlining that the rates of youth binge drinking, driving after drug use, and riding with a driver who has used drugs have all increased. "We need to continue to look at curbing these trends if we want to make a substantial reduction to impaired driving fatalities and injuries".

The OPHA and partners have been effective advocates on impaired driving legislation as well, most recently supporting the Federal government's announcement of legislative reforms [PDF] to address alcohol- and drug-impaired driving. Citing research which shows that per capita consumption of alcohol has increased in the last decade, the OPHA and partners feel

"responsible alcohol use must be a part of public consciousness and drinking and driving is an area where individuals must exercise responsibility … The inclusion of lowering the current legal BAC limit in the government's legislative reforms on impaired driving affords a very important opportunity to reduce the social, physical, emotional and economic burden related to alcohol-impaired driving".

OPHA and alPHa Challenge Election Candidates to Support Public Health

Substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs) prevention programs reduce the burden of illness, including hospital costs, losses from the workplace, enforcement costs, and others. These programs can save $441 per person in Ontario on health care, workplace productivity, prevention and research, legal costs, and productivity losses due to alcohol-related problems.

These programs, along with numerous others, are the focus of a new election guide recently released through the Ontario Public Health Association and the Association of Local Public Health Agencies. This guide consists of public health facts and challenges to pose to candidates. The three principles elected officials need to address are:

1. Maintain the momentum of operation health protection;
2. Address social and economic determinants of health;
3. Invest in strategies to improve the environment and health.

To learn more about how the upcoming provincial election will affect public health, download the 2007 provincial election guide [PDF].