Despite the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving, there are still a surprising number of drivers who have poor judgement of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. The consequences of intoxicated driving are far reaching; it affects not only the driver, but many, many others. It is important that people truly consider the risks of being an intoxicated driver, since people have lost their lives in a situation that could have prevented.
Remembering the people who have lost their lives is the message of the newest SGI campaign, where they show images of Saskatchewan families, with someone (or several people) faded out of the photo. These are real people who lost their lives due to a situation were an intoxicated driver was behind the wheel.
When a life is lost, it has a greater impact on the family of the victim, on the family of the intoxicated driver, and the community as a whole as they mourn the loss. The ripple effects continue throughout a person’s life in costly and emotional ways. Some families experience grief and shame for many years, or have difficulties with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, since it was a situation beyond their control.
Even one drink can reduce your ability to react to things that happen suddenly while you are driving. The effects of alcohol include blurred or double vision, impaired attention and slowed reflexes. The consequences for drinking and driving can be much harsher than receiving a ticket. Your life and the lives of others can change forever if you drive after drinking alcohol.
It is also difficult to understand the reasoning of “I have only had a few, I will be fine” when there are so many ways of getting home safely without getting behind the wheel. For some in rural areas, this attitude has come after generations of people driving the same distance, the same rural roads, in the same state of intoxication and “being fine”.
Consider the alarming statistic for the province, provided by Statistics Canada, which states that Saskatchewan has consistently doubled the national rate of deaths caused by impaired driving and nearly tripled the national rate for reported incidents. In 2014, the most recent year provincial statistics are available, impaired driving killed 59 people on Saskatchewan roads. The average number of people killed each year over the past 20 years is 59.
It is time to change those attitudes. It is important to take steps to prevent long-term impacts in anyone’s life: designate a driver, have taxi numbers and a trusted friend’s number on hand, and most importantly of all, hand over your keys. Protect yourself and the lives of your friends and family. Remember that it is not just your life that will be affected.
The legal consequences for drinking and driving are posted on SGI’s website, detailing what intoxicated drivers could face in regards to the Criminal Code. Impaired driving can result in driver’s licence suspensions, alcohol and drug education programs, fines, penalties and fees.
Even with these regulations in place, there are still drivers who think ‘they are fine’ after one drink, or to go a short distance. Driving is a right that we take for granted every day. Drivers need to be alert and attentive when operating a vehicle. Drinking impairs that ability. Driving under the influence puts all lives at risk. The best way to prevent drinking and driving is to never get behind the wheel after you have been drinking. It’s as simple as that.
