Impaired driving remains a crucial social problem in Canada and around the world. Under the Ontario driving regulations, impaired driving implies operating an automobile while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is considered an offence and may attract charges such as loss of license, vehicle impound, administrative monetary penalty, fine if convicted, and some jail time. The Canadian army of Mothers against Drunk Driving estimates that between 1200 and 1500 people die every year from alcohol and drugs related accidents. In Canada alone, impaired driving affects close to 70,000 individuals every year (InsuranceHotline.com).
Drinking and Driving
The effects of alcohol when driving can lead to blurred vision, double vision, impaired attention, and slow reflexes that can result in dire consequences such as death caused by accidents. The highest legal BAC for a completely licensed driver in Canada is 80mg of alcohol per 1000mg of blood, which is 0.08 BAC. At 0.08 BAC, muscle coordination becomes poor, and you cannot make right judgements. Your reasoning is weak because your hearing, concentration and information processing capability is impaired. You experience short-term memory loss and impaired perception which interfere with your speed control. At such a level of BAC, the decisions you make behind the wheel could mean life and death for you (Buddy, 2015). In Canada, the law dictates that the driver with an alcoholism percentage higher than 0.08 BAC should be charged with a criminal offence. This is proven by dangerous driving, slurred speech, red and glossy bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, odour or colour of alcoholic drinks, physical performance tests, and difficulty with standing or walking.
Drugged Driving
The outcome of driving under the influence of drugs is equally hazardous as drunk driving if not worse. Drugs set back reaction time, motor skills, memory and judgement of an individual. Abuse of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and illegal drugs impairs perception and interpretation, leading to severe injury, death, hurting pedestrians, property destruction, reduced productivity, and strain on the health care system. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse reiterates that the use of psychosocial drugs is illegal and makes it unsafe to drive. High driving in Canada is more prevalent among youths and is catching up to drunk driving. In 2008, the CCSA reported a 36.7% rate in fatalities caused by drugs abuse compared to the 40.8% cases of alcohol in the same year. The most common drugs in these cases were stimulants, depressants, and narcotics. The increase in drugged driving has been attributed to the awareness of licensing restrictions on drunk driving and the ingenuity used by traffic officials to apprehend and punish drunk drivers.
According to CCSA, people aged between 16 and 24 years accounted for the highest number of drunk driving and drugged driving fatalities at 27.6% and 26.9% respectively (Partnership for a Drug-Free Canada – PDFC, n.d.). Marijuana is the most abused drug because most people do not consider it to be as bad as using alcohol while driving. However, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence found that cannabis is equally as dangerous because THC, which is produced by the drug, affects the motor skills, balance, coordination, memory and judgement of an individual. When combined with alcohol, the effects can become detrimental.
Conclusion
Driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) are considered to be criminal offences in Canada and many other states in the USA and all over the world. The dangers posed by intoxicated drivers to the public are severe and life threatening. Furthermore, impaired driving can attract a hefty penalty of life imprisonment and rob the life of a loved one leaving the family in grief. To prevent such scenarios, the government through transport and road regulation authorities has come up with tough laws. For example, in Canada, impaired driving attracts a fine of $1,000, one-year probation, and an alcohol ignition interlock gadget. Subsequent impaired driving attracts a 30-day jail term, two years’ probation and three years license suspension. If indicted for the third time, the perpetrator may face 120 days in prison, three years’ probation or a lifetime suspension of up to ten years (Jourard, n.d.).
References
Buddy, T. (2015, August 23). Impairment Begins Long Before You Reach a BAC Level of 0.08. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from http://alcoholism.about.com/od/dui/a/driving.htm
InsuranceHotline.com. (2011, March 29). The Consequences of Drinking and Driving. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from https://www.insurancehotline.com/the-consequences-of-drinking-and-driving/
Jourard, R. (n.d.). Criminal Lawyer. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from https://www.defencelaw.com/drinking-driving-1.html
Partnership for a Drug Free Canada – PDFC. (n.d.). Partnership for a Drug Free Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from http://www.canadadrugfree.org/drug-info/drugs-and-driving/
