FRANCAIS

May 16, 2006

Licensing changes will give Manitoba the strictest blood-alcohol limits for novice drivers in Canada, Attorney General Gord Mackintosh and Transportation and Government Services Minister Ron Lemieux announced today.

Manitoba will increase the zero blood-alcohol limit for novice drivers under the Graduated Driver Licensing program to five years from three.

The proposed change was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada as a major step forward in protecting the lives of beginning drivers and as a key recommendation in the their Opportunities for Progress report, which was released today.

"We’re proud of what we have already done and today’s initiative will provide even greater protection for both novice drivers and the public," said Mackintosh.

"As National Road Safety Week gets underway, we also want to remind those who would endanger our safety by driving under the influence that Manitoba is not a place anyone should think about getting behind the wheel while impaired," said Lemieux.

The change recognizes that even small amounts of alcohol can affect a person’s abilities and beginning drivers do not have the experience or skills needed to ensure they do not pose a safety risk to themselves or others. Drivers who have never had a licence before are subject to the Graduated Driver Licensing program. The extended period will apply to drivers enrolled in the program starting in December 2006.

"Initiatives like this can save lives. Recent statistics show that Manitoba had a
25-per-cent decrease in the average number of alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities and injuries when averages of the past four years are compared to the four years prior. It was the largest decrease among the provinces," said Mackintosh.

In addition, the way prosecutions will assign many criminal cases involving impaired driving has been reworked.

A group of Crown attorneys has been designated to handle impaired driving matters in Winnipeg.  Co-ordinated by a supervising senior Crown attorney, this core group of skilled prosecutors has the expertise needed to deal with impaired driving cases effectively and consistently, focusing resources on such cases.

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