Enough is Enough -----------------------------------------

Drinking and driving is a very serious and dangerous offence. A driver is considered impaired and therefore not capable of operating a motorized vehicle when

their alcohol level is over 80 milligrams per every 100 milliliters of blood. G2 drivers in Ontario, must have zero blood alcohol level (Break the Law, Pay the Price). In 2002 there were approximately 81, 000 incidents of impaired driving, or a rate of 321 incidents

for every 100, 000 drivers over the age of 16 (Impaired driving and other traffic offences). Drivers between the ages of 19 and 24 were involved in 56% of these accidents (Impaired driving

and other traffic offences). Although the incidents of impaired driving have decreased since the 70’s it is still a very

predominant problem in our society (Impaired driving and other traffic offences). University aged students need to become more aware of the risks and dangers of drunk driving

because they represent the highest amount of accidents caused by impaired driving. Alcohol affects everyone differently so it is hard to tell when you have reached a blood alcohol

level over .08 so to be safe, if you drink, don’t drive, at all. A driving while impaired (DWI) charge results in sever consequences including fines, arrest,

immediate license suspension, alcohol education and treatment, vehicle impoundment, injuries and depending on the severity of the accident it can be fatal, resulting in death (Break the Law, Pay the Price).

Drunk driving kills and leaves behind permanent damage for the individuals affected by this selfish crime.

Young drivers aged 19 to 24 represent the highest rates for impaired driving in 2002.

The rates of impaired driving peak at 21, they remain constant for 19 to 25 year olds, they being to drop at 45 years and seniors have the lowest rates of impaired driving.

This data reveals the significance of targeting and informing university aged students of the seriousness of drinking and driving

Statscan 2003

One or the other - Alcohol and driving don’t mix !!

(Break the Law, Pay the Price)

approximately one quarter of accidents on Ontario roads resulting in death are caused by impaired drivers (Break the Law, Pay the Price)

Know your limit – getting behind the wheel while intoxicated has devastating results for our society as a whole, it’s not worth risking your life or endangering others around you

The consequences of a DWI (driving while intoxicated) conviction has a catastrophic impact on an individuals life – don’t let something as stupid as this mistake determine your future

If you’re mature enough to drink then you’re mature enough to know better

Plan ahead - call a cab, arrange a designated driver or walk home

The Outcome

(Break the Law,

Pay the Price)

Preventing Drunk Drivers Individual’s convicted of a DWI are subjected to

Ontario’s Ignition Interlock Program for at least one year

Ontario’s Ignition Interlock Program is an in car blood alcohol screening device which is located near the drivers seat and connected to the engine’s ignition system.

If the driver blows over .02 the vehicle will not start. The driver must provide breath samples at random times during the drive.

If they blow over or do not blow at all the car will activate alarm systems such as flashing lights until the car is turned off.

This device is used to prevent people previously charged with a DWI to commit the same offence again.

The individual convicted of the DWI is responsible for paying for this device and it can be very pricey, costing up to a $1000

(Break the Law,

Pay the Price)

PERCENTAGE OF FATAL CRASHES BY TYPE OF IMPAIRMENT: CANADA 2003

Drugs9%

Alcohol & Drugs23%

Alcohol 68%

(Alcohol, Trauma and Impaired Driving)

Impaired driving does not only refer to drinking and driving; being under the influence of drugs can be just as dangerous and disastrous

As this pie chart indicates, alcohol related crashes resulting in death are much more of a problem than drug related crashes however, both of these problems need to be addressed and eliminated in our society

Most people do not realize that drug impaired driving is just as bad, if not worse due to the illegalness of drugs, as drunk driving – it is a major issue in our society especially with the popularity and presence of marijuana use among people of driving age

MADD – Mother’s Against Drunk Driving This MADD ribbon is tied on the

antennas of cars to remind drivers of the damage they will cause if they get behind the wheel while under the influence

This powerful symbol is used by MADD in hopes to discourage individuals from driving while impaired and to empathize with the victims of drunk driving accidents; the one’s left behind who are forced to deal with the consequences of this unnecessary and selfish tragedy.

No one has the right to play God however, whenever someone drives while impaired they are risking the lives of everyone around them.

MADD has been doing their part since the 1980’s to eliminate drunk driving, unfortunately their efforts have not been enough as this continues to be a major problem despite common knowledge of the risks.

(MADD Canada)

Be Responsible – Do The Right Thing

(MADD Canada)

Works Cited “Alcohol, Trauma and Impaired Driving.” MADD Canada. 2006. MADD Mothers

Against Drunk Driving & CAMH Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 4 October 2008. <http://madd.ca/english/research/real_facts.pdf>

“Break The Law, Pay The Price.” Ontario Ministry of Transportation. 2 October 2008. ServiceOntario. 3 October 2008. <http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/enligh/safety

/impaired/breaklaw/breaklaw.htm>

“Impaired driving and other traffic offences.” Statistics Canada. 2003. Statistics Canada. 3 October 2008 <http://www.statcan.ca/daily/english/031107/d031107b.htm>

MADD Canada. 2008. MADD Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 19 September 2008. <http://www.madd.ca/home.html>