MADD Canada has expressed its views following a tragic accident in Ontario that resulted in the death of three children and left others battling for survival after a collision involving a 19-year-old impaired driver.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on Sunday, May 18 in Etobicoke, reigniting the call for more robust measures for preventing and enforcing impaired driving laws in Canada.
“This situation has torn apart so much of a family,” remarked Tanya Hansen Pratt, the national president of MADD Canada.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected. We are deeply saddened and frustrated for them.”
The crash involved a total of six individuals in the struck vehicle, including a mother, her four children, and her partner.
Tragically, two of the children, aged 13 and 15, were declared dead at the scene, with their six-year-old sibling succumbing to injuries later in the hospital. The 10-year-old child, along with their 35-year-old mother and the mother’s partner, a 40-year-old man, were rushed to the hospital for treatment and are currently in recovery.
‘They simply do not anticipate it happening to them’
In response to the accident, Hansen Pratt highlighted the persistent issue of impaired driving.
She pointed out that a portion of the population still perceives the risk as “minimal,” particularly among young men who continue to be a high-risk group.
“In this instance, the driver, a 19-year-old, falls directly into that high-risk category. The tragic consequences of his actions have claimed three lives, injured three others, and devastated an entire family and community,” she expressed.
The devastating impact of impaired driving has affected numerous families across Canada.
One notable case was that of Jennifer Neville-Lake.
Neville-Lake was a devoted mother to her three young children, but a crash on September 27, 2015, shattered her dreams of watching them grow up. Daniel, 9, Harrison, 5, and Milly, 2, lost their lives in an impaired driving collision in Vaughan, Ont. Their grandfather, Gary Neville, also perished.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Neville-Lake shared with Global News that the loss shattered her identity.
Despite extensive public education and strict regulations, impaired driving continues to claim lives and cause injuries.
Dr. Donald Redelmeier, a physician at Sunnybrook Hospital and a professor at the University of Toronto, emphasized that many drivers still underestimate the risks due to past experiences of driving under the influence without consequences.
“The average person who drives under the influence needs to cover over 1,000 miles before statistical probabilities catch up with them,” he informed Global News.
“Personal experiences can be misleading because many individuals have driven with alcohol in their system multiple times without incident. This false sense of security creates the belief that they are immune to impairment,” he added.
Dr. Redelmeier noted that about thirty percent of severe motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol. “This includes both minor incidents and life-threatening crashes,” he elaborated.
‘There is more we could do’
Some experts and advocacy groups believe that Canada could implement more effective enforcement measures to deter impaired driving.
“In Australia, drivers are breath-tested annually on average,” Dr. Redelmeier pointed out. “In Ontario, the testing frequency is around once every five years. This is insufficient.”
Hansen Pratt concurred, emphasizing that behavioral change occurs when individuals fear getting caught rather than the severity of potential consequences. She highlighted the effectiveness of mandatory alcohol screening as a genuine deterrent.
MADD is urging Canadian legislators to follow the United States’ lead by mandating the installation of in-car impaired driving prevention technology in all new vehicles in the near future.
‘Endless devastation’
The tragic Etobicoke crash was preceded by another incident in Nova Scotia just over a week earlier, where a driver believed to be impaired was traveling in the wrong direction on the highway, resulting in the deaths of five individuals.
“These tragedies are not random; they stem from choices,” remarked Hansen Pratt. “Driving impaired could devastate a family, a community, causing lifelong suffering.”
The RCMP emphasized to Global News that “impaired driving remains a significant cause of criminal fatalities in Canada,” extending their deepest sympathies to all affected by the recent impaired driving catastrophe.
For those who still believe it is safe to drive under the influence, Hansen Pratt advises planning ahead as the simplest way to prevent such tragedies. “It’s not worth the risk. There are always alternatives to get home safely. Call a cab, use a rideshare service, or stay overnight,” she emphasized.
“If you suspect someone is driving impaired, dial 911. Your call could save a life,” she added.
