Prince Edward Island has made major progress in the way it deals with impaired driving. That’s the message today from Mother’s Against Drunk Driving Canada (MADD). Its latest report entitled “Rating the Provinces - The 2009 Report” shows Prince Edward Island has moved up seven places from tenth to third in the country compared to its 2006 rating. Overall, the province received a B grade.
“As Minister, I am extremely pleased to see how much progress our province has made in the eyes of this very credible organization,” says Minister of Transportation and Public Works Ron MacKinley. “We take impaired driving very seriously, and we’ve made major changes over the last couple of years to try and address it.”
The MADD report identifies legislative initiatives that will make the most significant reductions in alcohol and drug-related crashes, fatalities and injuries. It grades each jurisdiction on their laws in the following priority areas: licensing, license suspensions and revocations, vehicle sanctions, and remedial programs.
Over the last few years, Prince Edward Island has enacted legislation making it mandatory for anyone convicted of a second impaired driving offense to install ignition interlock devices, and it has given enforcement agencies the power to issue one week administrative driving suspensions for individuals with blood alcohol content between .05 and .08. It has also introduced a comprehensive graduated drivers license program.
“We are thrilled that the Island has moved up considerably in the MADD Canada report,” said MADD Charlottetown Chapter President Amanda Burke. “Although more improvements can be made, we’re happy with the recent changes to impaired driving laws in the province.”