Dangerous Driving: Who's To Blame And Why?

Everyone is affected by impaired driving, either directly or indirectly. Have you been placed in a situation where you are late to work because of a traffic collision? Roads are blocked off by first responders and as you drive pass the scene of the accident you see two vehicles that had collided into each other. One can ask the questions “Who is at fault and why?”. It’s Friday night and you hear the faint sound of sirens from first responders responding to calls involving individuals that have made a decision to operate a motor vehicle in a physical and/or mental state that makes them unsuitable to do so; therefore, placing their own life and the life of others at risk. Deterrents to stop these decisions must be implemented in every vehicle.

Every choice we make has an outcome, which can be either positive or negative. According to an article based on Rational Choice Theory which was published on the website Criminal Justice, explains that criminals and non-criminals are no different, both of these individuals willingly choose their own actions. Bills and regulations have been set in place to deter these choices that place the safety of the general public at risk. According to the Parliament of Canada’s website for a Bill to become Law it must go through different stages. According to the textbook Criminal Law in Canada “Dangerous driving is an offence that arises under section 249(1) of the Criminal Code which was enacted in the Parliament of Canada.” (Verdun-Jones, p. 116). Section 249(1) of the Criminal Code states that if an individual operates a motor vehicle in a way that risks the lives of the public. He or she is committing an offence and is “liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.” (Criminal Code, 2013). This offence could also be punished on summary conviction. If bodily harm is caused due to dangerous driving the maximum sentence increases to ten years and the offender is charged with an indictable offence. Different cases create precedence such as the case of The Queen versus Settle in 2010, “In a joint trial of impaired driving and dangerous operation, a finding that D’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was not impaired by the

Thousands of lives were saved after airbags were made mandatory. Seatbelts were introduced prior to airbags and also serve a great purpose to society. According to the website ROSPA: Accidents don’t have to happen states that physicians were the first to use lap belts in their vehicles and actively fought to make them mandatory in every vehicle. Race car drivers were then urged to use lap belts in their vehicles. The society of Automotive Engineers then created a group dedicated to the use of seatbelts called the Motor Vehicle Seat Belt Committee. Seatbelts have come a long way ever since. New laws are created based on research completed on why individuals are injured in a car crash and how to avoid serious injuries. For instance, in 2006 “All children travelling in cars (with very few exceptions) required to use an appropriate correct child restraint until they are either 135 cm in height or 12 years old, after which they must use an adult seat belt.” (ROSPA, 2014). Research will never stop there. Accidents continue to occur and people will never stop engaging in dangerous driving behaviours. One of the most dangerous driving habits an individual could engage in is driving while under the influence of drugs, especially alcohol.