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The statistics paint a grim picture. While there has been in Canada over the long term, the fact remains that impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries.

In 2023 alone, police reported over 70,000 incidents of . And although the rate has decreased over the past two decades, even one life lost due to impaired driving is one too many. The increase in self-reported instances of driving after exceeding the legal limit in 2024 is also a worrying trend, suggesting that the message is not resonating strongly enough.

In Ontario, the roadside penalties for (DUI) offence include a 90-day license suspension, a 7-day vehicle impoundment and a $550 fine. While these measures might seem significant on the surface, they pale in comparison to the potential for irreversible harm caused by impaired driving. Perplexingly, for a third-time DUI offence, the vehicle impoundment remains at seven days.

These financial penalties are hardly a sufficient deterrent for an act that can result in the loss of innocent lives.

When examining how other countries address this crime, the deficiencies in Ontario’s approach become even more glaring. Many nations have adopted a zero-tolerance policy or significantly lower blood alcohol (BAC) limits. For instance, countries as diverse as the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Brazil have a 0.00 per cent BAC limit for all drivers, sending an unambiguous message that any amount of alcohol in the system while driving is unacceptable.

In Norway, a DUI offence can lead to three weeks of imprisonment with hard labour, while South Africa imposes fines up to $10,000 and/or a 10-year prison sentence. In contrast, Ontario’s penalties for a first offence usually avoid jail time altogether.

The consequences of this comparative leniency are undeniable. Stricter DUI laws in other jurisdictions serve as a powerful deterrent, creating a stronger culture of responsible behaviour. Studies have shown that implementing stricter laws leads to a demonstrable reduction in alcohol-related accidents and fatalities. The logic is simple: when the potential consequences are severe and consistently enforced, individuals are far more likely to refrain from driving while impaired.

The purpose of DUI laws should not merely be punitive after a tragedy has occurred; their primary function should be to prevent such tragedies in the first place. Ontario’s current laws are clearly not doing enough to deter individuals from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. The loss of three young lives is a devastating testament to this failure.

It is imperative that Ontario’s lawmakers take immediate and decisive action to strengthen our DUI laws. This should include lowering the legal BAC limit to align with international best practices; increasing minimum penalties such as fines and making jail time mandatory for first-time offenders; expanding the use of ignition interlock devices even for first-time offenders; impounding vehicles for a minimum of 30 days for first-time offenders and one year for repeat offenders; and investing in public awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving.

The blood of these three innocent children cries out for justice, not just in the prosecution of the individual responsible, but in a fundamental shift in our approach to impaired driving. Ontario must learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions and enact tougher laws. Anything less would be a continued disservice to the memory of those lost and a failure to protect future generations from such preventable tragedies.

The time for leniency is over; the time for decisive action is now.