DriveSmartBC - 45 Deaths That Didn't Occur I'm no stranger to death by automobile. It was never a pleasure to investigate fatalities and for me there was no satisfaction in the successful prosecution of the impaired driver that caused them. Many more people than the direct victims were hurt and I knew that the only way I could really contribute was to hunt down the impaired driver and stop them. Today's press release in relation to the first year of the Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) program refers to 45 deaths that didn't happen on BC's highways during that time. However, turn it around and look at the 71 that did if we accept the average of the past five years. We've still got a long way to go. I maintain a collision counter on my DriveSmartBC web site that ticks upward each day based on the totals for the last year's collision statistics published by ICBC. Today it shows 115 alcohol related collision deaths and 2511 alcohol related collision injuries. We are very fortunate that the totals may now be overstating the problem. So, to those that subscribe to the philosophy that drinking means not driving and driving means not drinking and to the officers that are continuing the hunt, you have my respect and encouragement. For those of you who haven't learned yet, I hope you don't hurt anyone before you realize that wisdom. It shouldn't be possible for police to catch 15,401 "fail" drivers during year, but experience tells me it is still a small part of the real total. Reference Links You may also be interested in: VIDEO - Winter Tire Demonstrations |
With over 15,000 drivers driving with a BAC of .08 or higher (assuming the machine was accurate and the drivers had zero medical issues that could affect the reading), you have to ask if the new laws are really working? Do you know how many were caught with a BAC of .08 per year before these laws took effect? |
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I don't think bar owners were complaining that they couldn't overserve, but I do seem to recall that they were worried that patrons wouldn't order any alcohol with their meal for fear that a glass of wine would put them over the limit. From 1997 to 1998 BC saw alcohol fatalities drop by 30. 2004-2005 it rose by 27. While rare, we do see big number changes from year to year. So when we look at the "45 deaths that didn't occur" it's difficult to say what percentage is directly attributable to the new punishments, and furthermore it's almost impossible to say how the immediacy of the punishment impacts that number. I'm not sure I consider 15,000 drunks on the road much of a success story. |
If they didn't overserve then their patrons would not be over .05 and get busted for impaired. They wouldn't use those words but ask any server in a bar about what happens when they serve people enough to become impaired....they spend lots of money in the bar and the owner is very happy.If people only drink enough to remain under .05 the bar doesn't make as much money on booze. "I'm not sure I consider 15,000 drunks on the road much of a success story. I would consider removing those 15,000 drunks from the road was "much of a success story". |
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Simnut - as I said before, it wouldn't be the first time we've seen a year to year fluctuation in the number of drink driving deaths 25 or more. It is therefore not at all unreasonable to assume that many of the 45 deaths that these laws have been cited for preventing wouldn't have occurred anyway. As for the 15,000 drunks who were removed from the road - the police already had laws on the books that allowed these people to be caught and removed from the road. |
As a matter of interest on this subject...news headlines in Comox/Couretnay. RCMP did 2 major Counter Attack blitzes on "drunk fishing areas" and after checking 1000 vehicles they got zero impaireds or even 05-08. Did get drug seizures and some tickets but no DUIs'. I worked this area for 20 years and that is unheard of...zero impaired. They didn't just work main roads, they sat on side roads and "escape routes" used by drunks to avoid the Cops. Something has changed. |
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So no chance any of the 15,000 drunks that were taken off the road were sober, eh? |
"A Vancouver lawyer says..." So no chance this guy is an ambulance chaser, eh? |
So the Police are testing them for accuracy before use and are finding problems that are either rectified or the unit is not used? Radar and Laser instruments are tested before use every day. If they are found defective they are no longer used and sent to the manufacturer's repair centre or removed from service. The ambulance chaser is uspet that defects are being found and remedied? Wonder why ? |
How often are the ASDs tested for correct calibration? As for laser calibration - what's the procedure for testing a laser gun and what models are used in BC? |
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Even, as mentioned, laser and radar instruments are calibrated BEFORE use....every day....and those are used just to give speeding tickets! |
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I have the solution for the whole ASD debate: zero-tolerance. The mere whiff of alcohol on a driver's breath should then be enough, no unreliable machinery required. |
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Ok, well if that's what is deemed acceptable then so be it. But if you blow a warn and opt for a second blow on a second device, what are the chances that the second device is also 3+ weeks off of calibration? I only see a reason to re-calibrate if the device shows an incorrect reading, but IMO it should be checked for accuracy at the start of the shift. |
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Too bad you never have any solutions. |
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Not that it really matters anyway since you're not allowed to call the accuracy of the second device into question. It's a gamble, really. EDIT: That's why I asked previously if someone convicted of drunk-driving can request a blood test. These roadside devices (and the datamaster back at the clink) estimate BAC based on substances in the breath. A diabetic for example who has had nothing to drink can receive an inaccurate reading. |
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