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Alberta complacent on drunk driving: MADD
CBC News
December 2, 2009

Alberta legislators have become complacent about impaired drivers, says a spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

"There was a time when Alberta was definitely the leader in impaired driving, the first province bringing in the ignition interlock program and whatnot," Louise Knox said.

"It's very frustrating. Last year was the highest death rates in Alberta, the highest in Canada at 107 impaired driving deaths, and something has to be done because it's only going to get worse," she said.

The national organization gave Alberta a B-minus grade, unchanged since MADD's last report card in 2006. But the province has slipped to sixth from fourth in the provincial ranking because other provinces have brought in tougher rules against drunk drivers.

"It's disheartening because we always hear about how Alberta is the greatest province to live in, but nobody ever tells you have a good likelihood you're going to die on the roadways here too, compared to any other province," Knox said.

Knox's family has suffered three car accidents involving drunk drivers over the past decade, one of which killed her 16-year-old son.

MADD is calling on the province to institute zero tolerance for blood alcohol levels for drivers under the age of 21, and change the graduated driver's licence program to restrict driving on high-speed roads.

The group also wants the current 24-hour suspension police can impose for driving with a blood alcohol level over .05 per cent to be lengthened to seven to 14 days.

And it is calling for mandatory ignition interlocks, which prevent impaired drivers from starting their cars, for all first-time offenders.

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