New impaired driving legislation passed

• Strongest impaired sanctions for repeat offenders and over .08
• Education campaign to focus on changing behaviours to save lives 

Government of Alberta news release

Alberta’s new, comprehensive impaired driving legislation aims to keep drivers who drink from getting behind the wheel by changing behaviours through enforcement balanced with education, prevention and monitoring. Bill 26, the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2011, was passed on December 6 to reduce collisions and needless deaths and injuries on Alberta’s roads.


“Impaired driving is preventable and Alberta will pursue coordinated actions that are proven to change behaviours when taken together,” said Minister of Transportation Ray Danyluk. “This legislation has sparked some important conversations around the province. I encourage everyone to keep talking - keep talking to your spouses, to your sons and daughters, to your parents, to your friends, to your colleagues and to those important to you.”

In the coming months, government will work with partners to run a public education and awareness campaign to help Albertans prepare for the new law.

The new law takes an integrated approach that builds on existing sanctions and education programs. The law reserves the strongest sanctions for repeat offenders and those who are criminally impaired with blood-alcohol content (BAC) over .08. It also expands existing sanctions for drivers impaired with BAC from .05 up to .08. Repeat offenders will face progressively harsher penalties with each offence. Accompanying changes will also be made to regulatory sanctions for new drivers who are found with any BAC in their system.

“This new legislation is one important step toward making Alberta’s roads safer,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Verlyn Olson. “It’s now up to all Albertans to take the next steps forward by making smart choices when it comes to drinking and driving and encouraging others to do the same.”

The new legislation focuses on creating stronger, safer communities and roads. An estimated 22 per cent of drivers in fatal collisions in Alberta last year had consumed some alcohol. Alcohol-related collisions resulted in 569 fatalities and 8,535 injuries over the last five years in Alberta.

"This legislation will be a further tool to police to get drunk drivers off the road," said Jonathan Denis, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. "The tougher penalties target drunk drivers who repeatedly put us all at risk. Cracking down on high risk drivers is the right call for Alberta."

Information about the new law is available on the Alberta Transportation website at www.transportation.alberta.ca. The Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2011 is available on the Alberta Queen’s Printer website www.qp.alberta.ca.