The provincial government has moved forward with plans to make impaired drivers pay ever-higher prices for their law breaking.
The province’s new Reduce Cannabis and Alcohol Impaired Driving Act comes into effect this month.
Whether the changes will result in safer city and country roads remains to be seen.
What is certain is that the efforts to keep drunk and stoned drivers off the roadways must continue for the sake of the community at large.
For his part, Minister of Transportation Brian Mason says he believes the government has the support of the vast majority of Albertans for its anti-impaired driving efforts.
“The loss and suffering that result from impaired driving are unacceptable and entirely preventable,” said Mason.
“As the country prepares for legalization of cannabis, we’ve strengthened our provincial impaired driving sanctions to make our roads safer and continue to deter impaired driving, whatever the source of impairment may be.”
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has been leading the fight to make sure drunk and impaired drivers pay an ever-increasing price for their carelessness criminal activities.
The organization is applauding Alberta’s new law.
“The provisions in this bill send a powerful message that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be tolerated, and those who ignore the law will face strong consequences,” said Andrew Murie, CEO of MADD Canada.
Among the provisions of the new legislation is the following: “All criminally impaired drivers will receive a 90-day licence suspension followed by mandatory participation in a one-year ignition interlock program. Should the driver choose not to participate in ignition interlock, the licence suspension will remain in place during this one-year term.”
The legislation also lays the groundwork for the province to enforce upcoming changes to federal impaired driving charges in the Criminal Code of Canada.
Whether this new legislation will make more drivers think twice about getting behind the wheel when they are impaired remains to be seen.
Hopefully, for everyone’s sake, it will do just that.
- Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor
