Quebec Police claim new blood-alcohol limit could save 14 lives annually
- Quebec provincial police estimate that lowering the blood-alcohol limit to .05 may prevent 10 to 14 fatalities each year on the roads.
- The Coalition Avenir Québec government has decided to maintain the legal limit at .08 despite recommendations from safety advocates.
- There is growing concern over the lack of action to improve road safety and prevent impaired driving fatalities in the province.
In Quebec, the provincial police conducted an analysis regarding the legal blood-alcohol limit and its impact on road safety. The analysis revealed that reducing the blood-alcohol limit from .08 to .05 could potentially save between 10 and 14 lives annually on the province's roadways. These estimates were derived from heavily redacted documents obtained through an access to information request made by The Canadian Press. Despite this data, the Coalition Avenir Québec government has firmly decided not to lower the legal limit, maintaining it at .08, the same as the federal Criminal Code. The refusal to amend the blood-alcohol limit has raised concerns among public health and safety advocates, including the province's automobile insurance board and a Quebec coroner. They have called for the reduction, suggesting that other provinces have already established lower limits to combat impaired driving. This has prompted discussions regarding the effectiveness of current measures and the necessity for stronger regulations to safeguard road users. Public Security Minister François Bonnardel, when questioned about the refusal to release unredacted documents, stated that the province has no intention of lowering the limit. The justification for maintaining the current limit aligns with federal regulations, indicating a reluctance to alter legal thresholds that have been in place for some time. This stance has been met with skepticism from those pushing for change, emphasizing the potential lives that could be saved through such legislative action. The figures used in the police analysis were based on data from Alberta and British Columbia, indicating a broader trend in Canada towards adopting stricter blood-alcohol limits for drivers. As the discussion continues, the government faces mounting pressure from various stakeholders advocating for safer roads and a more proactive approach to reducing alcohol-related fatalities. The potential consequences of this decision reflect a larger conversation about public safety and the governmental responsibility to protect its citizens effectively.