In the News

P.E.I. ranks third in MADD report
CBC News
December 2, 2009

Prince Edward Island has motored up to third place in Canada in the latest Mothers Against Drunk Driving ratings of efforts to get drunk drivers off the road.

Just three years ago, the Island was ranked 10th among the provinces and territories for its impaired-driving legislation, said Margaret Miller, MADD's national president.

She credits P.E.I.'s improved status to recent changes in its impaired-driving laws, including a seven-day licence-suspension program. The Island is the first province to take away a licence for a week if a driver has a blood alcohol level of .05 per cent. The legal limit is .08 per cent.

"They have made fantastic progress and are now ranked third in Canada with a grade of B," Miller said of the provincial government and Transportation Minister Ron MacKinley. "You know, 2006 it was a D+ with a ranking of 10th. And even though the bar has been raised, they are still in third place."

Only Ontario and Manitoba ranked higher, both with grades of A–.

P.E.I. also scored points for increasing its minimum driving age to 16 and enacting a three-stage graduated licensing program that lasts at least 2 3/4 years.

Miller said she's impressed with the Island's progress but cautioned more must be done if the province wants to stay near the top of the list.

For example, she'd like the province to strengthen its alcohol ignition interlock program. With an ignition interlock, similar to a breathalyzer, a car can't be started if a driver's blood alcohol registers above a certain limit.

In P.E.I., only drivers with two or more federal convictions must participate in the program for at least one year as a condition of re-licensing.

Miller believes the minimum interlock program should be one year for a first offence, three years for a second offence within 10 years, and five years for a third offence within 10 years.

She also suggested permanently seizing vehicles of people who repeatedly drive drunk or drive while suspended.

Also see...

Rating the Provinces