Last year (2002), in the U.S., over 17, 000 people died in alcohol related motor vehicle accidents. The year before, approximately 1.5 million drivers were arrested for being under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. These facts are disturbing, yet people still get into their vehicle impaired. Impaired driving is considered a serious crime in every province. It is wrong, irresponsible and wastes and incredible number of lives. People who abuse alcohol hurt everyone around them, endanger public safety, and create carnage on the nation's highways. There is not one positive aspect that can come out of drunk driving, so why do we feel obligated to do it? What good comes from it?
Under section 253(b) of the Criminal code of Canada, it is illegal to operate a vehicle, vessel or aircraft while your blood-alcohol concentration is over 80 mg of alcohol to 100 millilitres of blood. This term is often shorted to "80mg%" or ".08". If your blood-alcohol level is above said limit varies if you are a first or second time offender. I believe that our punishments are harsh but, they do not prevent all this from happening, and with teenagers drinking more, and being of legal age to drive, there are more and more cases of impaired driving with teens. …
