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Getting tougher on drunk drivers

Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette has begun toying with the idea of getting tougher on drunk drivers in the province. This is a good idea.

Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette has begun toying with the idea of getting tougher on drunk drivers in the province. This is a good idea.

Ouellette has seen British Columbia cracking down harder than ever on its drivers and he is open to introducing this in Alberta. In B.C., drivers who now blow between .05 and .08 on a breath test will lose their licence for three days on first offence, seven days on a second offence and 30 days for a third offence with fines accompanying each suspension. Blow a .05 to .08 in Alberta and a driver will only face a 24-hour suspension and a warning.

One day without their licence is our answer for someone who puts lives in danger by operating large machinery on public roads. So, rather than a drunken Friday night resulting in a person losing their licence for a day, now it’s gone for three and they’ll have to bum a ride to work for Monday or walk. That’s embarrassing.

One-fifth of all road fatalities in our province last year were a result of drunk driving. Despite 59 fewer total deaths between 2008 and 2009 on Alberta roads, 351 still died and 70 of those were as a result of alcohol.

Ouellette and his people will continue to monitor B.C. and its new law closely. With any luck, Albertans who find it kosher to have a few wobbly pops and skedaddle home will soon be penalized B.C. style.




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