Public Policy Initiatives - Provincial Campaigns
While a great deal of work remains to be done at the federal level to reduce impaired driving, MADD Canada believes the provinces and territories should not wait for federal Criminal Code amendments when they have the legislative power to make significant road safety improvements in their own jurisdictions.
MADD Canada initiated its Rating the Provinces and Territories Report and Territories to identify those initiatives that would make the most significant reductions in alcohol and drug-related crashes, deaths and injuries.
The report identifies the following legislative priorities for provinces and territories:
Enhanced .05% BAC administrative licence suspensions of 7 – 14 days, including $150-$300 licence reinstatement fees, the recording of the suspensions on the driver’s record, and mandatory remedial programs for repeat breaches.
A .00% BAC limit for all drivers under 21 and all drivers with less than five years of driving experience.
A comprehensive graduated licensing program lasting at least three years for all new drivers, and express police powers to enforce it.
A mandatory alcohol interlock program for all federal impaired driving offenders, including: reduced provincial suspensions to encourage participation; and reliance on the interlock readings and other behavioural criteria in relicensing.
Administrative vehicle impoundment for uninsured, unlicensed or suspended drivers, and for impaired driving suspects and administrative vehicle forfeiture for repeated impoundments and offences.
The report assesses each jurisdiction’s impaired driving laws and their progress towards these priorities. MADD Canada is generally pleased with the progress that some provinces and territories have made over the past 10 years, particularly in the areas of graduated licensing, .00% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for young drivers, alcohol interlocks, and remedial programs. However, not all programs represent the best practice models. For example: some programs are narrow in scope; there are long delays between enacting some of the programs and when they are proclaimed in force; or some programs are implemented but the police are not given the authority to enforce them.
