The province is getting tough with young drivers, proposing new laws that would limit the number of teenage passengers and require zero blood alcohol levels for all motorists 21 and under.
The legislation, introduced Tuesday, would even apply to drivers who have completed the graduated licencing program.
"There is a wealth of research indicating that zero blood alcohol content limits until you reach the age of 21 significantly reduce deaths and injuries among young drivers," said Prof. Robert Solomon of the University of Western Ontario, a national director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
"Those between 16 and 25 represent 13.7 per cent of the population, but 32.1 per cent of the alcohol-related traffic deaths. Impaired driving remains the number one criminal cause of death in our country."
Under the new bill, which passed its first reading at Queen's Park, teens would also only be allowed one other teenage passenger in the vehicle with them, with exemptions for siblings. According to studies the risk of a crash increases with each additional teenage passenger in the car.
"We're finding after these crash, there's lots of distractions," explained Brian Patterson of the Ontario Safety League. "Three of them taking cellphone calls, one of them text-messaging, another getting their mp3 player to go, and a lot of disruption around the driver."
Jan Perry helped push for the changes. Her son, Drew, (pictured) was one of five teens killed in a crash in Meaford, Ont.
"As a mom, it just became a mission for me," she said. "I looked at our other two sons and I knew we had to make changes."
"The more teenagers in the car, there's more opportunities for distractions, more bravado, especially unfortunately among young males," she added.
Also new --- a three strikes law for speeding --- young drivers caught going faster than the posted speed limit would face a 30-day licence suspension for the first offence, a 90-day suspension for the second, and a total suspension for the third. The person would then have to start over with a beginner's driving course and apply for a new licence.
"Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of hospital admissions among those from aged 15 to 24. Motor vehicle collisions could cost your life, the life of your child, a loved one or your best friend," noted provincial Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.
"We need to educate drivers on the dangers of their actions. As any parent of a young driver knows, we need to give our young and novice drivers the right skills to ensure a lifetime of safe driving habits. We need better laws to keep young and novice drivers safe. Our government has taken action to help young motorists drive more safely."
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty changed his mind on banning young drivers from consuming alcohol after a passionate appeal by Tim Mulcahy, whose son Tyler, along with two others, died in a crash in Muskoka after they'd been drinking.
"As much as I miss
Tyler
, I can't bring him back, but I would never want another parent to feel the way I feel," he said.
But not everyone thinks the changes are justified.
"What about people that try to carpool with each other?" asked 18-year-old Andrew Pacheco. "The government is trying to put that into effect: Carpool, carpool, carpool. Are the cops going to stop you and say you can only have one person under the age of 18? I don't find that fair."
The proposed legislation follows similar laws passed in
New Brunswick
,
Manitoba
and
Nova Scotia
.
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