Impaired Driving Remains a Serious Problem on our Roads

January 24, 2023, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

You don’t need to look far or hard for evidence of drinking and driving in the Region. Empty Beer cans and liquor bottles are easy to see on the roadsides after the weekend. Usually, can and bottle pickers grab them before too long, but the evidence is clear. Someone was drinking while driving and finished the drink.

The facts speak for themselves with two recent news articles hitting the impaired driving problem home. The OPP made two press releases immediately following the new year concerning the problem.

The first covered an OPP stop on December 30th, 2000. A concerned citizen called 911 about a suspected impaired driver. The police stopped the driver shortly after the call and noted he showed signs of impairment He was arrested at the scene.

The 40-year-old driver was breathalyzed and he tested over four times the legal limit for alcohol in his system. He is now awaiting trial.

The second news story concerned the dozens of impaired charges handed out by the OPP over the New Year. These figures are only for the OPP and not any regional or local police forces in Ontario.

OPP Highway Safety Division tweeted on January 1, 2023,

 “In the past 24 hours during #NewYear2023 celebrations, the OPP laid 56 #ImpairedDriving charges, 11 in the #GTA. 

Throughout the #FestiveRide season, the #OPP laid 1241 impaired charges, 243 in the GTA. 

53 people died in 2022 in drug/alcohol related collisions. #BeABetterDriver.”

Be Prepared if You Plan to Go Out and Drink

If you are heading out for a night of drinking or to a party please make a plan for how to get home. There are taxis, ride-share services, public transit, driver services that will drive you home in your own car, and friends and family that can help you get home. All of these are cheaper and safer than facing an impaired charge or killing or injuring someone when you are driving impaired.

How Are Impaired Drivers Caught?

Most impaired drivers are caught when concerned citizens report them. If you see someone driving who you fear may be impaired, police ask that you immediately call 911 and report the car, licence plate and a driver description if possible.

What Should You Do If You Suspect an Impaired Driver?

Drivers can call 911, or *OPP (*677) on their mobile devices and speak to an emergency dispatcher. Using a mobile device to report a potentially impaired driver will not result in a charge for using a hand-held communication device.

If You Are Involved in An Accident With An Impaired Driver

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident involving an impaired driver, please contact one of our personal injury lawyers immediately. We are highly experienced and can help you navigate the complex insurance road that you will face to get adequate compensation for your injuries. Call us at 1(519) 742-7774 today.

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.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.