N.B. improving but still not at the top, MADD Canada says
Fredericton Daily Gleaner
October 7, 2008

MONCTON - New Brunswick is one two provinces setting a good example in developing legislation to address impaired driving in Canada, according to a national report.

But results of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada annual progress paper released Monday don't indicate the province is one of the best at making roads safer from impaired driving, said the organization's CEO.

"You have to give credit when they attempt to rectify a terrible situation," said Andrew Murie, pointing to new legislation the province put into place over the last year. "But I don't want to leave any impression that New Brunswick has gone from 12th to first."

In 2006 MADD ranked New Brunswick second worst in impaired driving legislation - ahead of Nunavut - when compared to the nine other provinces and three territories.

But within the last two years, the provincial government has enacted legislation to strengthen its graduated licensing program.

The legislation includes late-night driving restrictions for new drivers, drivers under 21 to have a blood alcohol count of 0.00 per cent, and police can randomly stop vehicles to demand field sobriety tests from drivers suspected of having been drinking alcohol.

A 90-day administrative licence-suspension program, also included in the June 2007 legislation, was recently brought into force.

"What has happened in the two years since that time is that New Brunswick has made legislative changes," said Murie. "It doesn't mean they have gone to the top.

"Some of the things they have done are just to catch up with the other provinces."

For Saint John mother Karen Dunham, moves to keep impaired drivers off New Brunswick roads have taken too long.

"Change couldn't come quick enough for people who have been victims," Dunham said. "You often wonder why it takes so long."

Her son Jonathan was 19 years old when he was sideswiped by a woman with two impaired driving convictions minutes from their home while he was riding his motorcycle in 1999.

Dunham said it took years to nurse her son back from something that has changed her family forever.

"Your life just changes from the minute you get the knock on the door," said Dunham. "He basically went from a coma, to a wheelchair, walker, crutches, a change of personality and no sense of smell with a ton of rehabilitation.

"And it doesn't just affect one person it affects the whole family."

Department of Public Safety Minister John Foran said he's proud of what he has been able to implement in the last two years, but the job isn't done.

"We work with what we have to work with and there is a legislative schedule, and we always have a number of items to deal with as a department," said Foran. "It was time to move with it and we were able to get all the homework done and bring it forward."

He said he has told his staff to review the report and isolate further recommendations to take the province to the next level.

Murie said MADD Canada was disappointed with the lack of progress by provinces and territories in the past year, handing out only one "promising" rating while delivering 10 "needs improvement" ratings to the remaining jurisdictions.

He said New Brunswick should implement mandatory interlock systems to all convicted drunk drivers while increasing penalties to roadside suspensions in order to become one of the country's leaders in cracking down against impaired drivers.

Where New Brunswick ranks in Canada will be released next year.