The law protects society. Regardless of age, impaired driving remains the largest single criminal cause of death and injury on Canadian roadways. Under recent legislation, drivers with more than 80 milligrams of alcohol in the blood will be given an automatic 90-day license suspension whether or not they are eventually convicted or acquitted of that offence. The same holds true for motorists who refuse a breathalyzer test. Drivers convicted in a criminal court may face an additional suspension of at least one year and a possible jail term.

Higher auto insurance premiums discourage drinking and driving. Following a license suspension due to an impaired driving conviction, an adult male driver of a 1991 Honda Accord (with full coverage) could see his six month premium rise from less than $500 to almost $2,500. This new premium will decrease over time (6 years) provided the driver remains conviction free. A driver under the age of 25 convicted of the same offence could face ever greater premium increases.

Impaired driving affects much more than insurance premiums. An impaired driver may be required to pay to repair or replace the damage to his or her own vehicle. If convicted of impaired driving, the driver’s insurance company will not pay for loss of income if he or she is injured in an accident. The facts are simple – if you drive while impaired, you are violating conditions of your insurance policy and the resulting financial obligations could be devastating. Be Smart, don’t drink and drive.