Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 85 longer have a beer after work or a glass of wine with dinner because that will put them over the .05% level. The truth is a .05% BAC limit does not interfere with what most Canadians would consider to be social drinking. Based on estimates of BACs in relation to time, weight and standard Canadian drinks, a 185lb. man can have three drinks over a two hour period and not go over the .05% BAC limit. Likewise, a 130lb. woman can have two standard drinks over a two-hour period and not go over .05%. • The safest way, always, is to separate drinking from driving entirely. If you’re going to be drinking, plan ahead; call a cab, take public transportation or arrange for a designated driver. Driving impaired simply is not worth the risk. .00% BAC Requirements for Young and Novice Drivers The statistics for alcohol-related crashes among young drivers are particularly alarming. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15 to 25 year olds, and alcohol is a factor in 45% of those crashes. Laws requiring young people to maintain a zero BAC level while driving have been shown to reduce impaired driving among young drivers. The .00% BAC requirement begins as part of the provincial/territorial graduated licensing programs, which include a number of restrictions for new drivers as they are developing their driving skills. The major limitation with most provincial/territorial .00% BAC requirements, however, is that they are typically lifted when the driver completes the program, which usually happens at 18 or 19 years of age. This corresponds to the legal drinking age in most provinces and is a time when alcohol and binge drinking increase. It is also the age at which teenagers are the most vulnerable to alcohol-related crashes. MADD Canada recommends a .00% BAC restriction to all drivers under 21, even if the driver has successfully completed the graduated licensing program. The research and statistics clearly support this measure as an effective way to reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities among young people. Graduated Licencing Programs A comprehensive Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) is vital to any policy aimed at reducing crash risks among youth. In the 1990s, jurisdictions across Canada began introducing GLPs for new drivers in the 1990s. Today, every province and territory except Nunavut has GLPs. These programs typically involve a combination of mandatory supervised driving and restrictions on the passengers, night-time driving, high-speed roads and alcohol consumptions. They are designed to allow new drivers to gain on-theroad experience in low-risk circumstances. Research has consistently shown that GLPs are associated with significant reductions in crash deaths and injuries among affected drivers. MADD Canada recommends a comprehensive graduated licensing program lasting at least three years for all new drivers, and express police powers to enforce it. The program should include two stages: • Stage 1: Driver must be supervised at all times by a licensed adult and subject to stringent conditions. This stage should be a minimum of 12 months. • Stage 2: Driver can drive unsupervised in some situations but must be supervised in more challenging situations. This stage should last a minimum of 24 months. MADD Canada also recommends the minimum driving age should be 16. CANADA’S IMPAIREDDRIVING RECORD IS POOR BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS CONTINUED
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