A Community That Cares - “Tackling issues you care about!”

Anti-Drinking and Driving Campaign

Introduction
Basic facts about impaired driving
Impaired driving statistics
Support Letters
Press Releases
Publicity Report
View P.S.A.'s

1. Introduction.

We are members of the community who would like to make a difference. We see impaired drivers affecting our community everyday. We read the newspapers and watch the news, and to tell you the truth we are sick of seeing the tragedies. We are Daljit DJ Parmar and Kabir S. Ali. We figure why wait until one of us is affected by impaired driving to want to make a difference, let's do it now and try and prevent some tragedies. We want to start an anti-drinking & driving campaign, that's first outreach attempts will be via public service announcement commercials that we are looking to air on local networks. In these commercials we are looking to cover a couple issues that are related to impaired driving such as: youth drinking, impaired driving, grief caused by the loss of a loved one. We believe that the community should band together and send a message to the public saying that the community cares. This project can only move forward with the support of people who want to make a difference within our community. We are setting this campaign up as a non-profit venture for the sole benefit of the community and public at large. We think that these commercials will only be the start of this campaign and would like to start a larger outreach program by stretching across to print and perhaps even radio. If you have any comments or concerns feel free to contact us. Thank you!

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2. Basic information about impaired driving.

What does "impaired driving" mean?

Impaired driving means driving a car, truck, boat, snowmobile, aircraft, train or other motor vehicle when the ability to operate the motor vehicle is impaired by alcohol or drugs.

A person can be convicted of the criminal offence of impaired driving when there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the person's impairment. Evidence might show, for example, that the person was driving very slowly or too fast, was not driving in a straight line, could not manage simple physical tasks, had slurred speech or bloodshot eyes or had breath that smelled of alcohol. A person who is actually impaired by alcohol can be convicted of impaired driving, whether or not the person's blood alcohol content was over the "legal limit."

What is the "legal limit"?

When the alcohol content in a person's blood is more than 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, the person can be convicted of being "over the legal limit" (being "over 80"). In most situations, a breath test is used to determine the blood alcohol concentration. In some situations, a blood test is used to determine the concentration.

A person whose blood alcohol content is over the legal limit could be convicted even if the person didn't act drunk or seem to be impaired. The punishment for this criminal offence is the same as the punishment for driving while impaired.

Are there other impaired driving offences?

Yes. When an impaired driver injures someone, the impaired driver can be charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm. The appropriate charge will be decided after the police investigation. Impaired driving causing bodily harm is an indictable offence with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

When an impaired driver kills someone, the impaired driver can be charged with impaired driving causing death. This is an indictable offence with a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

What is the punishment for a person convicted of an impaired driving offence?

Impaired driving is a serious criminal offence.

For the offences of impaired driving, driving with a blood alcohol content "over 80," or refusing to give a breath or blood sample without a lawful excuse, the Criminal Code sets minimum penalties that the judge must impose. In addition to these minimums, the judge can decide that other punishments are also appropriate in the circumstances. For example, a judge could sentence a person convicted of impaired driving for the second time to a minimum of 14 days in prison, prohibit the offender from driving for three years and order the offender to report to a probation officer.

What happens if a person who is prohibited from driving is caught driving?

When a person who has been prohibited from driving is caught driving, the person can be charged with the offence of operating a motor vehicle while disqualified. The Crown prosecutor may choose to process the charge as an indictable offence with a maximum punishment of five years in prison. Or, the Crown prosecutor may choose to process the charge as a summary conviction offence with a maximum punishment of six months in prison and a $2,000 fine.

Highest rates of impaired driving reported among young drivers

Young drivers aged 19 to 24 continue to have the highest rates for impaired driving, according to data available from 94 police departments in nine provinces, representing 56% of all reported criminal incidents. These data indicate that the rates of impaired driving peak at age 21. Rates level off and remain relatively constant for 25 to 44 year olds, followed by a drop in rates with persons aged 45 and over. Seniors aged 65 years and older had the lowest rates.

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3. Impaired driving statistics.

Drinking and driving habits

8 in 10 adults drink alcoholic beverages.
61% of those who drink alcoholic beverages have 1 or 2 drinks on occasions when they drink.
one-third of the male respondents aged 18-24 who drink alcoholic beverages have 6 or more drinks on occasions when they drink.
1 in 10 drivers admit they drove at least once in the past 12 months while probably over the Criminal Code BAC limit.
14% of all respondents say that in the past 12 months they have been in a vehicle with a driver they thought was probably over the Criminal Code BAC limit.
31% of the respondents aged 18-24 say that in the past 12 months they have been in a vehicle with a driver they thought was probably over the Criminal Code BAC limit.

Canadians want more federal government action to reduce impaired driving

54% of all Canadians say the federal and provincial governments are not doing enough to reduce impaired driving; only 2 % say they are doing too much.
66% of non-drinkers say the federal government is not doing enough, compared to 51% of drinkers.
Only 28% of those who admit to having driven when they thought they were impaired say the federal government is not doing enough.

Impaired Driving

Police reported about 81,000 incidents of impaired driving, or a rate of 321 incidents for every 100,000 people aged 16 and over. Of these incidents, police charged about 67,000 drivers with impaired driving in 2002. This number was equivalent to a rate of 265 drivers for every 100,000 people aged 16 and over, a 5% decline from the year before. Between 1992 and 2002, the rate of people charged with impaired driving has dropped 45%.

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