On June 22 at approximately 8:20 a.m., an officer of the Ontario Provincial Police was flagged down after an accident took place on Ojibway Parkway in the City of Windsor.
Upon responding to the crash, authorities determined one of the drivers, 54-year-old LaSalle resident Mitchell Clements, was impaired with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 80 milligrams, or above the legal limit of intoxication.
Although the accident caused no injuries it serves a reminder that impaired driving can and does result in serious consequences regularly. Ontario is one of the foremost authorities in the battle against impaired driving, and it maintains some of the most rigorous laws against this behavior in North America.
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation classifies impaired driving as a criminal offense punishable by licence suspension, fines, and jail time, and Ontario maintains a zero-tolerance policy on impaired drivers under the age of 21.
MADD Canada has taken particular notice of drunk driving among teens, which the organization claims is the leading cause of death for this demographic.
Inexperience and immaturity are a deadly combination on our roads, as teenagers tend to overestimate their abilities and underestimate the effects alcohol will have on them.
Further statistics include:
- Young people have the highest rates of traffic death and injury per capita among all age groups and the highest death rate per kilometer driven among all drivers under 75 years of age. More 19-year-old’s die or are seriously injured than any other age group;
- Male drivers account for 87% the young fatally injured drinking drivers, and 89% of the seriously injured drinking drivers;
- 16-25 year old’s constituted 13.6% of the population in 2010, but made up almost 33.4% of the impairment-related traffic deaths;
- Summertime is the most dangerous season for young drivers, as 32.4% of those fatally injured will die during this time of year, while 40.8% of total injuries take place in summer;
- By the time a driver reaches a blood alcohol content of .10%, he or she is 51 times more likely than a non-drinking driver to be involved in a fatal crash.
Remember that if you are taking any prescription drugs the effects of alcohol will intensify. Drivers must keep in mind impaired driving is not only a dangerous behavior, but it is a criminal activity with serious legal repercussions.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a car accident by an impaired driver, you may be eligible for compensation.
To find out how Greg Monforton & Partners can fight for your rights, fill out our FREE case evaluation form or call a Windsor personal injury lawyer at (866) 320-4770.