麻豆视频

Two more motorists were arrested for impaired driving on Saturday night in Estevan.

It鈥檚 another reminder that some people still aren鈥檛 getting the message when it comes to impaired driving. We all know the risks associated with driving while impaired, yet some people insist on getting behind the wheel after having too many drinks.

In some cases, they might not realize they are over .08, but in most instances, their actions are merely a reflection of a lack of respect for others.

And with the tougher punishments in place for those whose blood alcohol level is above .04, why take the risk of driving while impaired to begin with?

Have a couple of drinks in a short period of time? Find a safe ride home.

Don鈥檛 have any options to get home safely after drinking? Then don鈥檛 go out drinking to begin with.

Now the federal government is considering reducing the legal blood alcohol content for drivers from .08 to .05, following in the footsteps of other countries who have taken this step to combat impaired driving.

Any new impaired driving legislation should ultimately have two goals: reduce the number of impaired drivers, and create tougher punishments for those who do insist on getting behind the wheel when they鈥檙e impaired.

You might think that it鈥檚 okay to drive when your blood alcohol content is at .04 or .05, but you鈥檙e not.

Saskatchewan took the step earlier this year of having stiffer punishments for those caught driving while their blood alcohol content is between .04 and .07. It represents a step in the right direction. Hopefully this will prove to be as effective here as it has been elsewhere.

After all, who wants to have their licence suspended and their vehicle seized for three days?

Now, if the criminal charge for impaired driving starts at .05 instead of .08, will it result in fewer impaired drivers on the road? Will it create safer communities?

If the answers are yes on both fronts, then by all means, we should proceed with this latest tough stance on impaired driving, and create safer roads in our communities.

But if the answer is no, then perhaps the best option is to maintain the current system, while continuing to look for tougher punishments for impaired driving.

After all, the tougher impaired driving laws have to do more than just create a backlog in the courts.

Impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death in Canada. We have seen countless incidents in our province of tragic accidents involving impaired driving.

Each impaired driving deaths was preventable. Common sense and advanced planning could have prevented tragic outcomes.

Be as tough as possible on impaired driving. But make sure the new laws actually make sense.聽