II) Results of Workshop Discussions and Public Consultation

1) Education and Prevention

a) What more, if anything, can be done to educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving?

• Consideration should be given to making the driver's education program:
  • a credit course in high school.
  • address all impairment issues (drug impairment, fatigue, the affects of mixing alcohol with drugs, cell phones) and the consequences of impaired driving.
  • include recounting of community experiences (victims and offenders).
  • include information on snowmobile and ATV impaired driving.
  • include presentations in schools by MADD and TADD.
• Impaired driving education could begin in schools with children at a younger age. A website might be developed for that purpose and parents and schools could work together to reinforce positive behaviours.
• Consider changing impaired driving advertising so that:
  • It happens all year round and not just at Christmas.
  • It is developed in a co-ordinated multi-agency approach to prevent contradictory messages.
  • It includes different messages for different demographic groups (age, geographic) and for different issues (home, office, bar, hotel, social event, or club).

b) What else, if anything, can be done to educate the public to develop alternative transportation plans for social functions to avoid the potential for impaired driving situations?

• Public education advertisements could be more visible, use all forms of mass media (newspaper, television, radio, internet), and include in-person presentations at schools. A co-ordinated approach might also provide a more consistent message.
• Consider beginning education before young people can legally consume alcohol and using commercials to highlight the impact of parental drinking and driving on young people.
• Consider taking a new approach to education whereby the message is that you should not drink at all or take drugs if you are driving.
• Better incentives, such as reduced insurance rates or reduced licence fees, might be needed to obtain meaningful changes.
• Consider whether it is possible to promote a "Local Pub" concept, where bars don't provide access for cars and people are encouraged to go to bars within walking distance.
• Consideration could be given to operating the "Operation Rednose" program all year long.
• Reduced bus fares and having bars provide free shuttles for customers might be helpful.

c) What else, if anything, can be done to improve designated driver programs and incentives to encourage responsible driving?

• The Designated Driver program is very successful, especially with younger people (under 25), but consideration could be given to beginning education at a younger age (age 14).
• Public education is crucial, but could focus more on the consequences of drinking and driving and move away from how much alcohol can be consumed safely.
• The support of businesses in providing free soft drinks to designated drivers is necessary for the success of the program.
• There could be designated driver billboard ads – "Do you have your DD?"
• Incentives (e.g. gift certificates, discounts and free meals) funded by user fees (i.e. liquor sales) might help promote the Designated Driver program to participants and servers.

d) What do you think about making education programs for alcohol servers mandatory?

• The majority of participants thought that mandatory education programs for alcohol servers and the management and owners of businesses that serve alcohol could be useful.
• Some participants were concerned about the work and costs involved in enforcing alcohol server licensing and how that would be done. They thought that the government should consider what is being done in other provinces and states.
• Mandatory education could include the impact of alcohol on patrons and/or drivers, how to identify signs of intoxication, how to handle intoxicated people and civil/financial responsibilities (can be sued).

e) What else, if anything, can be done to educate the public about private party hosting responsibilities?

• The MLCC has a pamphlet on private party hosts' responsibilities, which is available at all liquor stores, but hosts of home based parties, social events and community clubs may need more education about their responsibilities to and for their guests.
• Public education could focus more on planning events to achieve responsible alcohol use, outlining different alternatives for rural, urban and northern communities, reinforcing the message about not driving impaired in provincial parks and making young people and others aware of the consequences of allowing guests to over-consume and drive impaired.
• Some participants thought that consideration could be given to making alcohol permits require private party host(s) to bar entry to guests who do not have a designated driver.

f) What other initiatives can be undertaken to educate the public and prevent impaired driving?

• Video games could be used to teach that it is socially unacceptable to drink and drive.
• Consider whether changing the minimum drinking age would be effective in reducing the number of youth who drive impaired.
• Recognize people for good behaviour but make drinking and driving socially unacceptable. The message should be do not drive at all after drinking.
• Public education about drinking at home and at birthday celebrations may be helpful.
• Consideration could be given to requiring all new drivers to take a course on impaired driving.
• Encourage the public to assist by reporting impaired drivers to police.

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