Pubdate: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 Source: Tribune, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2014, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/letters Website: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2807 Author: Peter Epp DRUG CRACKDOWN ON DRIVERS RIGHT MOVE It's about time the Ontario government beefed up legislation to include new penalties for drug-impaired drivers. As the use of narcotics, both prescribed and illegal, becomes more prevalent, their use is having an impact on our roads. Ontario must deal with drugs and driving in the same fashion as with drinking and driving-with tough laws. And so the government's announcement Tuesday is appropriate. It is proposing amendments to its distracted driving bill that would include new penalties for drug-impaired drivers. As with the legislation that oversees drinking and driving, those who drive under the influence of narcotics would be subject to roadside suspensions, mandatory education or treatment, an ignition interlock condition, and a seven day vehicle impoundment. That's good. As Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca noted on Tuesday, more than 45% of all collisions involving vehicles that resulted in deaths "had individuals who were either under the influence of drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol." The technology to identify drivers under the influence of narcotics is also being improved. In most cases, police must take a suspect in for further evaluation, but roadside technology is being introduced to provide police tools to identify drivers at the roadside. The proposal also has the approval of the Ontario Safety League, which notes nations such as Australia have already developed and implemented technology to allow police to better do their job in determining drug impairment of a driver. Indeed, the police community appears to be a few steps ahead of the government in this regard. Over 1,300 officers have already been trained to identify drug-impaired motorists. This problem has been with us for quite some time. Only now is government responding as it should. Most Canadian provinces have already addressed the challenge of drugs and driving. Still, it's rare when any proposed legislation receives near unanimous approval of the Opposition parties, but this legislation is one of them. Praise has come from the New Democrats and the Conservatives, both parties agreeing with the Liberal government driving under the influence of narcotics is as serious as driving under the influence of alcohol. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard