MADD Canada

MADD Canada Releases

Quebec ranks 9th out of 13th jurisdictions for its impaired driving laws

Fails to move up in the rankings of MADD Canada’s Rating the Provinces and Territories 2009 Report, but recently tabled provincial recommendations could lead to improvements.

December 2, 2009 - Quebec made ‘modest’ improvements to its impaired driving laws over the past three years but the lack of key legislative measures prevented it from joining leaders in MADD Canada’s ranking of provincial and territorial impaired driving laws.

Quebec received a grade of C- and ranked 9th in MADD Canada’s Rating the Provinces and Territories: The 2009 Report.
“Quebec needs to enact more changes if it wants to improve its impaired driving laws and reduce the rate of alcohol-related crashes, deaths and injuries,” said Marie Claude Morin, MADD Canada’s Chapter Services Manager – Quebec Region. “It is, for example, the only province without an administrative suspension program for drivers with BACs over .05%.”

There is some promising movement in Quebec, with the Table québécoise de sécurité routière releasing a series of recommendations including: a .00% BAC recommendation for all drivers under 21; and a 24-hour administrative licence suspension for drivers with .05% BACs.

While MADD Canada welcomes the report, it is concerned that the recommendations fall short of the best practices which have been identified through broad research and empirical evidence.

“The recommendation for .a 05% BAC administrative licence suspension program is a welcome recommendation, but we would strongly encourage the government to establish a minimum 7-day suspension, longer suspensions for repeat offenders, and fines,” Ms. Morin said. “That is the best practice model endorsed by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators and its provincial and territorial representatives, including Quebec.”

MADD Canada’s Rating the Provinces and Territories: The 2009 Report identifies legislative initiatives that will make the most significant reductions in alcohol and drug-related crashes, fatalities and injuries. Full details on the 2009 Report can be found on MADD Canada’s web site (www.madd.ca/english/research/tbor2009.pdf).

Ontario took top honours in the 2009 Report, receiving a grade of A- and ranking 1st among all provinces and territories. Ontario’s impaired driving reforms include: a comprehensive graduated licensing program; 3-day administrative licence suspensions for drivers with blood alcohol concentrations of .05%; a comprehensive vehicle impoundment program; and a mandatory alcohol interlock program for all federal impaired driving offences.

For more information, please visit www.madd.ca or call:

Andrew Murie, Chief Executive Officer, MADD Canada at 1-800-665-6233, ext. 224.
Margaret Miller, National President, MADD Canada at 902-758-5328.
Robert Solomon, National Director of Legal Policy, MADD Canada at 519-661-3603.

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