Pubdate: Wed, 22 Oct 2014
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Page: A1
Copyright: 2014 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Rob Ferguson

TOUGH NEW RULES OF THE ROAD TARGET DRUG-IMPAIRED DRIVERS

Drugged drivers will face the same sanctions as drunk drivers under
proposed legislation aimed at cracking down on distracted driving in
Ontario.

"This sends a clear message to the people who think, 'I can get high
and drive because I can pass a breathalyzer,' " Brian Patterson of the
Ontario Safety League said Tuesday.

The bill from Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca is an updated
version of one tabled in March but not passed before the spring
election. It increases penalties for talking or texting on hand-held
smartphones, with maximum fines of $1,000 and three demerit points -
the toughest in Canada.

As well, the bill outlaws painting any vehicles the same chrome yellow
as school buses and would require drivers to wait until pedestrians
have finished traversing the street at designated crossings.

Drivers who "door" cyclists would see penalties rise from the current
range of $60 to $500 to between $300 and $1,000 and three demerit
points instead of two. And motorists would have to stay one metre away
from cyclists "where practicable."

But the province lagged on dealing with drug-impaired drivers. Del
Duca said more than 45 per cent of drivers killed in Ontario in 2011
were found to have drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol in
their system.

"Ontario is one of only three jurisdictions in Canada right now that
has no sanctions . . . we thought it was important," Del Duca told
reporters, noting 45 per cent of drivers killed in Ontario in 2011had
drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol in their systems.

Police officers who have reasonable grounds to suspect drug-impaired
driving would be able to issue roadside drivers' licence suspensions
of three, seven, 30 and 90 days - just as they do with
alcohol-impaired drivers for first and repeat offences.

"That is probably the most immediate example of what those specially
trained officers will be able to do," Del Duca said of Ontario's 1,300
front-line police trained in recognizing drug-impaired motorists.

Currently, motorists must be taken to the police station for further
evaluation if drug-impaired driving is suspected. That would change if
the new legislation is passed.

Authorities could also require educational or substance abuse
treatments, order ignition interlocks and seven-day vehicle
impoundments.

Del Duca said his ministry is "working very closely" with the RCMP to
implement roadside technology to test for drug impairment that would
be a similar tool to a breathalyzer, which measures blood alcohol
levels. "Over the next number of months I am optimistic, I am
confident we will have technology to provide us and our police
officers with that same sense of scientific backup." Australia has
been among the forefront of countries using such devices, which work
by measuring drug levels in saliva, said Patterson of the Ontario
Safety League. "I think we're getting to the stage where there will be
a huge comfort level with this." The targeting of drug-impaired
drivers was applauded by opposition parties, in addition to tougher
penalties for distracted driving in general. "Whether it's distracted
driving or impairment by alcohol or drugs, the government has a
responsibility to make sure they are taking steps," said Progressive
Conservative MPP Michael Harris (Kitchener-Conestog! a). "It is
troubling to know there are people like this on our roads." New
Democrat MPP Joe Cimino (Sudbury) said drug-impaired driving "has to
be looked at. It's as serious as drunk driving." While Ontario's roads
consistently rank among the safest in North America, "there is still
much more work the province can do and must do," Del Duca said in
announcing "much stiffer fines." The legislation comes as distracted
driving outpaces impaired driving and speeding as the leading cause of
death on the roads. Ontario Provincial Police said there were 78
distracted driving deaths last year compared to 57 for impaired and 44
for speeding. The OPP laid 19,000 distracted-driving charges in 2013,
up from 16,000 the year before.  
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