Strengthening Alberta’s approach to impaired driving
Our province’s new impaired driving law will help to reduce the number of drinking drivers on our roads – and that means fewer deaths and serious injuries. Drivers who are criminally impaired or refuse to provide a breath sample will receive the harshest penalties. And, these drivers will still be charged with a criminal offence. Tougher consequences at the .05 to .08 level are designed to discourage drinking and driving – before drivers reach the criminally impaired level. Our goal is to create safer roads by ensuring that Albertans take responsibility for their actions behind the wheel.
- Alberta is focusing on those who receive Criminal Code offences, repeat offenders and new drivers.
- Education and enforcement are both key to Alberta’s approach.
- This made-in-Alberta approach focuses on changing behaviours through mandatory courses and ignition interlock use.
- Alberta does not believe that fines are the solution. These changes do not include fines or demerit points.
- This legislation does not prevent responsible Albertans from having a drink with dinner or friends.
- Our focus is safer roads.
Success to Date
On July 1, 2012, Alberta implemented tougher sanctions for graduated drivers licence (GDL) drivers and drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08. On September 1, 2012 tougher sanctions were also implemented for drivers with a BAC of .05. Since the tougher sanctions came into force, starting on July 1 through December 31, 2012, there has been a 46% decline in the number of alcohol-related fatalities compared to the same period for the previous five years.
Fatalities in Alcohol-Related Collisions: July-December 2012
Alberta Alcohol Suspensions and Seizures: July-December 2012
Penalties
Implemented July 1, 2012 For drivers with blood alcohol over .08: |
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Implemented September 1, 2012 For drivers with Blood Alcohol .05 to .08: |
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Implemented July 1, 2012 For new (GDL) drivers with blood alcohol over .00 |
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