Impaired Driving

A new Road Safety Monitor (RSM) poll by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) shows that a majority of young Canadian drivers are aware that they cannot drive safely after drinking alcohol. The public opinion poll conducted in September 2010 investigated a variety of drinking and driving behaviours and attitudes among youth including riding with a drinking driver.

This case is the first major challenge of BC's new Immediate Roadside Prohibition laws. Mr. Justice Sigurdson has ruled that the penalties imposed for the actions taken against a driver who blows a fail (over .08) reading on an approved screening device are contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because there is no adequate option for a review.

Much has been written recently about the Approved Screening Device being used by police to test drivers under the Immediate Roadside Prohibition program. Many are curious about how it works, and those that have been tested were quite often surprised at the result. The authority for the screening comes from section 254 of the Criminal Code.

Gary McNeal crashed his vehicle and left the scene. Police tracked him down during their investigation, demanded breath samples and received readings above the legal limit. McNeal applied for judicial review of the adjudicator's decision that he was in fact the driver of the crashed vehicle.

Thoughts that make you go "hmmm..." This article by Eric de Place looks at civic government and the laws for the provision of parking at businesses. Why do they mandate parking at drinking establishments? Perhaps parking should be forbidden there, after all, we don't want people to drink and drive!