MADD Canada Applauds Positive Changes to Combat Impaired Driving in Ontario
May 15 2024 - 11:33AM
MADD Canada commends the Ontario Government for taking steps to
enhance road safety and combat impaired driving in Ontario. MADD
Canada CEO, Steve Sullivan and Carolyn Swinson (MADD Toronto)
joined Transportation Minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, today for the
announcement.
Carolyn Swinson knows all too well the real cost
of impaired driving. “My son, Rob, was killed by an impaired driver
in 1993 and my father was killed in 1981. There are thousands of
families like mine, and many more Canadians who have suffered life
altering injuries. These changes will enhance public safety in
Ontario and will help combat impaired driving.”
Sullivan said, “Too many people are still making the choice to
drive impaired, and we need to ensure sanctions hold drivers
accountable while focusing on reducing recidivism. Mandatory
ignition interlocks will reduce re-offending, while allowing people
to drive safely and legally. Similarly, remedial programs increase
awareness and educate drivers about the risks and consequences of
impaired driving. Finally, lengthening administrative licence
suspensions for first and second occurrences from three and seven
days to seven and fourteen days respectively represents a concrete
increase in the sanctions drivers in the WARN range will face.”
Despite the progress that has been made, impaired driving is
still one of the leading causes of criminal death in Canada.
Hundreds of Canadians are killed every year and thousands more are
injured. Ontario has the safest roads in North America yet
one-third of fatal crashes involve alcohol and/or drugs.
MADD Canada National President, Tanya Hansen Pratt, lost her
mother Beryl in 1999. “MADD Canada applauds the Government for
making these changes. We recognize there is no single solution to
impaired driving. We continue to encourage police services across
the country to use Mandatory Alcohol Screening at every lawful
traffic stop and continue to increase their efforts to detect drug
impaired drivers. We encourage the public to plan ahead for a safe
ride home if they know they will be consuming alcohol and/or drugs
and call 911 if they suspect someone is driving impaired.”
About MADD CanadaMADD Canada is a national,
charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired
driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With
volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada,
MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten
awareness of the dangers of impaired driving, and save lives and
prevent injuries on our roads. To learn more,
visit www.madd.ca.
For more information, contact:Eric Dumschat,
MADD Canada Legal Director, 1-800-665-6233 ext. 229,
EDumschat@madd.ca Steve Sullivan, MADD Canada CEO, 1-800-665-6233
ext. 224, ssullivan@madd.ca