Alcohol and lack of seat belts results in deaths of teens

November 07, 2017, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

The recent death of two teens in Burnstown Ontario brought the issue of impaired driving to the forefront again.  Drinking and driving continues to take lives on our Ontario roads. As we approach the holiday season the rate of impaired driving increases, as do the accidents and fatalities associated with it.

Four teens, three of whom weren’t wearing seatbelts were in a single car accident just after midnight on October 28. Their car left the road, and hit a rock outcrop. Three teens not wearing seatbelts were ejected from the car. OPP constables issued a statement that the use of seatbelts would have reduced injuries significantly.

One of the teens died a few days after the car crash after being removed from life support. One died at the scene, another is still in critical condition, and the fourth has been released from the hospital. Police confirm that alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Impaired driving (drug and alcohol) remains a significant problem on Ontario roads. The government introduced stiffer penalties and tougher laws this year, but the enforcement remains a problem. Police rely heavily on fellow drivers to report people that they think are impaired on the roadways. Crashes involving drug/alcohol impaired driving are the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. Almost 60% of deaths on the road in 2012 involved drugs or alcohol, and the rate of death was higher in younger and inexperienced drivers.

In an attempt to further protect pedestrians and cyclists the Ontario government is introducing amendments to the highway traffic act that will allow:

1. Careless drivers who cause bodily harm or death will to be fined a maximum of $50,000 in fines, two years in jail, a five-year license suspension and six demerit points.
2. Distracted drivers will face on the spot license suspension of three days (a first in Canada), maximum $1,000 fine, and escalating penalties for further offences.
3. Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians will face a maximum $1,000 fine and four demerit points.
4. Commercial drivers will be subject to a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy, with a license suspension of three days for violations.

This holiday season please consider carefully what your plans are before you head to any gatherings. Have a plan for who is driving, how you are getting home, or where you are staying. The risks associated with impaired driving aren’t worth the couple of drinks you may enjoy. Speak with your young drivers as well and make sure that they understand the grave consequences they face if they drink and drive.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

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