Ontario plans to toughen penalties for impaired drivers

Ontario plans to bring in legislation that would impose tough new penalties on impaired drivers, the provincial government says.

In a news release on Wednesday, the Ontario government said one of the penalties in the proposed legislation would be a lifetime licence suspension on motorists convicted of impaired driving causing death.

Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in the release that the government wants to curb impaired driving by strengthening the sanctions against those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. One in three road deaths involves impaired driving in Ontario, according to the province.

"Everyone deserves to return home to their loved ones safely at the end of the day," Sarkaria said in the release.

"Too many families in Ontario have had their lives torn apart by the careless and shameful actions of impaired drivers. That's why our government is introducing tough new measures, including lifetime licence suspensions, that will protect families and keep our communities safe."

Under the legislation, the government would require anyone convicted of impaired driving to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle and to be forced to take remedial education and treatment for first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences, respectively.

An ignition interlock device is an alcohol breath screening device in a vehicle that prevents its engine from starting if alcohol is detected in the driver's system.

The proposed legislation would also increase immediate roadside licence suspensions for first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences, from three and seven days to seven and 14 days, respectively. It would also clarify the authority of police to stop vehicles and administer sobriety tests for drivers on or off the highway.

The Ontario Provincial Police has said it laid more than 10,000 impaired driving charges last year. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Dec. 27, 2023, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said 397 people died in road crashes up until that point last year, and 49 of them died as a result of an alcohol or drug related crash.

Schmidt said the number of impaired driving charges being laid is increasing year over year.

Steve Sullivan, CEO of MADD Canada, said in the release he is pleased by the proposed new measures.

"Mothers Against Drunk Driving commends the Ontario government for taking steps to make roads safer and hold impaired drivers accountable," Sullivan said.

"Despite progress, too many people are still making the choice to drive impaired, and we need to ensure sanctions hold drivers accountable while focusing on reducing recidivism."

The government said the percentage of drivers killed while under the influence of cannabis more than doubled between 2012 and 2020, and it plans to crack down on cannabis-impaired driving as well.