MADD Canada calls for mandatory blood testing following serious auto accidents
Posted Jun 30, 2010 03:54:20 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MADD Canada is looking to toughen up another element of drunk driving laws.
The organization wants to make blood tests mandatory for drivers involved in serious accidents to see if they’ve been drinking.
MADD President Margaret Miller says their studies show only a small percentage of hospitalized drunk drivers are convicted of an impaired driving offence.
“Impaired drivers going to hospital are not being convicted,” she said. “They’re getting off because there has not been an appropriate [blood] sample taken.”
Police have to suspect alcohol before asking for a blood alcohol test at a hospital.
There of course is a civil rights issue being raised here. On the streets reaction is mixed.
“If I’ve been drinking and driving and I have seriously hurt someone, then what right do I have to expect that I would be exempt from testing right away,” said one man.
“Who are they to decide whether we should go through a mandatory blood test or if it should have to go through the court system,” said another.
MADD says of the almost 1300 impairment related deaths in 2006 only 137 drivers were charged with impaired driving causing death and only 36 were convicted.
