• Home
  • SUBSCRIBE!
  • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
      • Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus: What’s the Difference?
      • ALL GARMIN EDGE BIKE COMPUTERS COMPARED: 130 Plus vs Explore vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus
      • Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus vs 830 vs 530 Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830: What’s the Difference?
      • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s the Difference?
      • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus – Premium vs. Budget Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge 830 vs 820: What’s the Difference?
    • Which is the Best Garmin Edge Bike Computer?
      • Which Garmin Edge Bike Computer has the Longest Battery Life?
      • Which Garmin Edge Bike Computer is Best for Mountain Biking?
    • Are Garmin Edge Bike Computers Worth It?
    • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
      • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt: Which is Better?
      • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
    • 9 Great Upgrades to the Garmin Edge 530
    • 9 New Features in the Garmin Edge 830
    • The New Garmin Enduro Smart Watch – a Good Choice for Cyclists?
  • About
    • Start Here!
    • Contact Us
  • Product Reviews
    • 7 Great Budget Bikes You Can Buy on Amazon in 2023
    • 7 of the Best Budget E-bikes under $1000 for 2023
    • Bike Computer Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Budget Bike Computers for 2023
      • All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared: Edge 130 Plus vs Explore 2 vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus vs 1040
      • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
      • Best Bike Computers – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
      • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Cycling Gear Reviews
      • How to Choose the Best Cycling Balaclava
        • 7 of the Best Cycling Balaclavas to Keep Your Head Warm this Winter
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Jackets for Men and Women
        • 7 of the Best Women’s Cycling Jackets – Waterproof and Windproof
        • The Three Different Kinds of Cycling Jackets
        • Showers Pass Elite 2.1 Waterproof Cycling Jacket Review
        • Best Cheap Cycling Jackets under $100
        • Best Windproof Cycling Jackets
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women
        • Showers Pass Rogue Cycling Pants – Review by Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist
        • 3 Regular-Looking Pants that Work Well as Cycling Pants
      • Best Waterproof Cycling Gear for Men and Women
      • 7 of the Best Cycling Jerseys
        • Two of the Best Women’s Cycling Jerseys: Pearl Izumi and Sugoi
      • 7 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets and Dog Carriers
      • Adidas Cycling Glasses – Review after Eight Years of Use
      • The New Garmin Enduro Smart Watch – Is it a Good Choice for Cyclists?
    • Garmin Edge and Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared: Versus Posts!
        • ALL GARMIN EDGE BIKE COMPUTERS COMPARED: 130 Plus vs Explore vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs. Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Garmin Varia Vision and Varia Rear Light Radar
      • How to Upload Your Bike Rides to Strava While Garmin Connect is Down
    • Bike Pannier Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers
      • Review of the Two Wheel Gear Convertible Pannier/Backpack
      • Best Waterproof Bike Panniers for Touring and Commuting: Ortlieb Bike Panniers
      • Two Wheel Gear Classic 3.0 Garment Pannier for Bike Commuters – Review by Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist
      • Best Commuter/Bike Touring Panniers: Two Wheel Gear Classic 3.0 Garment Pannier Review
    • Bike Light Reviews
      • Complete Guide to Bike Lights
        • Best Budget Bright Bike Headlight – Lumintrail Review
        • Best Bike Light under $40 – Serfas Thunderbolt Tail Light Review
        • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting in 2023
        • Reelight Rl721 Bike Lights Review – Lights that are ALWAYS on
        • How to Choose the Best Bike Light
      • When to Use Flashing Bike Lights
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Bike Lights
    • Bike Saddle Reviews
      • 9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles for 2023
      • How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle
      • Zacro Gel Seat Cover – a Budget Solution for Saddle Discomfort
    • Headphone Reviews
      • Best Headphones for Safe Cycling
      • Aftershokz XTrainerZ Headphones – Open-Ear, Bone Conduction, Safe Headphones for Cycling AND Swimming
      • Review – AfterShokz Trekz Cordless Open Ear Bone Conduction Headphones for Safe Cycling
      • Jaybird Tarah Wireless Headphones Review
    • 7 Reasons to Use a Power Meter on Your Bike
  • Bike Computer Reviews
    • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
        • ALL GARMIN EDGE BIKE COMPUTERS COMPARED: 130 Plus vs Explore vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s the Difference?
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
        • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
    • 7 of the Best Budget Bike Computers for 2023
    • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Best Bike Computers – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
    • 9 Great Upgrades to the Garmin Edge 530 – Garmin’s Game-Changing GPS Bike Computer
  • Health Benefits
    • Cycling Weight Loss
      • A Guide for Fat Cyclists
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Lose Weight
      • The Top 10 Ride Your Way Lean Eating Rules, for Effective Weight Loss
      • 7 Steps to Lose Weight Cycling
      • How Many Calories Do You Burn Cycling?
      • How Many Calories Can You Burn Riding an Ebike?
      • Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
      • Our Best Lose Weight with Cycling Posts
      • Intermittent Fasting, Cycling, HIIT, and Weight Loss
    • Cycling and Aging
      • Science Shows HIIT on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging – And We Show You How to Do it!
      • 5 Great Reasons to Take Up Cycling During Retirement
      • Science Says Exercise is a Miracle Cure and Protects You from Diseases
      • Science Proves Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
      • Science Shows that Cycling Really Does Fight Aging
      • 7 Tips to Help You Keep Mountain Biking after Age 40
      • Case Studies: Three Seniors who Regained their Health with E-Bikes
    • Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 7 Ways to Prevent Cycling Knee Pain
      • How to Cure Cycling Knee Pain with a Miraculous, Cheap Cure
    • Cycling and Strength
      • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
      • 5 Great Strength Exercises for Cyclists
      • Science Says Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
      • How Strength Training Can Boost Your Cycling Speed and Quality of Life
    • Cycling and Sleep
      • How Cycling Helps You to Sleep Better and Get Healthier
      • One in Three Cyclists Experience Reduced Stress Levels
      • Why Cycling May Be the Sleep Aid You Need
      • How I Became a Bike Commuter and Shed Stress Immediately
    • Cycling and Brain Health
      • Science Shows Five Ways that Cycling Boosts Your Brain Function
      • Research shows that cycling makes your brain grow
    • Kids biking
      • 7 Easy Steps to Teach a Child to Ride a Bike
      • 7 of the Best Baby and Child Bike Seats to Keep Your Child Safe – Reviews and Videos
      • 7 Tips for Parents to Keep your Kids Safe on their Bikes
      • How to Transport Kids on Bikes (Video and Infographic)
      • Babies and Bikes: How to Get Kids Active from the Start
      • How to Encourage Kids to Ride Bikes
        • How to Help your Kids Bike to School
A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

Average Joe Cyclist

A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

  • Cycling Training Plans
    • Our Most Successful Cycling Training Plans
    • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 1
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 2 – Interval Training
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 3 – Preparing for Your First Race
    • 7 Reasons to do High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Your Bike – and How to Do It
    • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
    • Science Shows HIIT on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging – And We Show You How to Do it!
    • Workouts and Stretching for Cyclists
      • Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • Stop Doing Crunches! 10 Minute Complete Core Workout for Cyclists
      • Updated Video: 3 Hip Stretches to Cure Cycling Hip Pain
      • 5 Benefits of Cross Training for Cyclists
    • How to Protect Your Testosterone Levels from Over-Training
    • Research shows Amazing Benefits of Sprint Intervals in Cycling
  • Indoor Cycling Training
    • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers
    • 5 of the Best Smart Indoor Trainers for Effective Indoor Training
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • Guide to Smart Turbo Indoor Trainers
    • How to Get Started with Stationary Biking: A Guide to Stationary Bikes
  • Cycling with Dogs
    • 7 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets and Dog Carriers
    • How to Train Your Dog to Safely Run Next to You When You Are Cycling
    • Complete Guide to Taking Your Dog on Bike Rides in a Bike Basket
    • 6 Steps to Gently Train Your Dog to Go On Bike Rides With You
  • Lose Weight!
    • Cycling and Weight Loss
      • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers for 2023
      • 5 Quick and Easy Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
    • Our Best Lose Weight with Cycling Posts
    • Cycling Nutrition
      • Best Matcha Tea for Cyclists: My Matcha Life
        • How to Make Matcha Tea
      • How Protein Helps your Post Bike Ride Recovery
      • 5 Best Protein Supplements for Exercise Recovery and Health
    • Cycling Training Plans
      • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
    • Cycling and Health
  • Tips & How-Tos
    • How to Prevent & Cure Cycling Knee Pain
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
    • How to Change Gears on a Bike – Beginner’s Guide
    • Bike maintenance
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
    • Top 10 Tips to Keep your Bike from being Stolen
    • Smart Phone vs a Bike Computer for Recording Bike Rides – Which is Better?
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • Do You Need a Cycling Jersey?
    • Complete Guide to How to Buy and Sell Bikes on Craigslist
      • How to Buy Used Bikes on Craigslist (and Other Online Marketplaces)
    • How to Understand Bike Terminology
    • 5 Things You Need to Know about Hydration for Cyclists
      • Hydration for Cycling – How Much Fluid do You Need?
  • Bike Commuting
    • Bike Commuting Tips
      • Top 10 Tips on How to Avoid a Sore Butt from Cycling
      • How Women Cyclists Can Prevent Saddle Soreness and Associated Issues
      • How to Choose the Best Bike Light
      • The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When They Try to Start Bike Commuting
      • 7 Tips for Going Car-Free
      • Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer?
      • Best Bike Light under $40 – Serfas Thunderbolt Tail Light Review
      • 5 Ways to Stay Visible in Traffic When Cycling
      • The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When They Try to Start Bike Commuting
      • 7 Helpful Tips for New Bike Commuters – Don’t Start Bike Commuting Until You Read This!
    • Winter Cycling
      • Safe Winter Cycling – How to Cycle Safely in the Winter
      • How to Dress for Winter Cycling – Cycling Clothes that will Keep You Warm and Dry
      • Our Top Tips to Keep You Warm and Dry for Fall and Winter Cycling
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Cold Weather Cycling
    • Safety for Cyclists
      • Top 10 Tips to Not Get Hit by a Car on Your Bike
      • When to Use Flashing Bike Lights
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting
      • Aftershokz XTrainerZ Headphones – Open-Ear, Bone Conduction, Safe Headphones for Cycling AND Swimming
      • Best Budget Bright Bike Headlight – Lumintrail Review
    • Benefits of Being a Bike Commuter
      • Survey Shows London Bike Commuters are Happier and More Productive
      • What Is the Function of Myelin in the Body?
      • Research shows that cycling makes your brain grow
    • Bike Maintenance
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • How To Clean Your Bike Chain the Easy Way
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
      • Inspirational Video: How to Fix a Bike Flat – with No Hands
    • Cycling Infrastructure
      • 3 Reasons Why We Need Separated Bike Lanes
      • Research reveals a surprising benefit of separated bike lanes
      • Montreal Cycling, Part 3: Separated Bike Lanes – What Other Cities can Learn from Montreal
      • Cycling and the Post-Covid Transformation
You are here: Home / Bike Commuting / Bike Safety / The Tough BC Drunk Driving Laws – An Attempt to Protect the Innocent, or a Self-Serving Money Grab?

The Tough BC Drunk Driving Laws – An Attempt to Protect the Innocent, or a Self-Serving Money Grab?

November 26, 2010 by Average Joe Cyclist

Pin
Share
Tweet

Avatarwp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-96 photoIf I had to pinpoint the one news story that has disturbed me the most in recent years, it would definitely be the trial of Carol Berner, the woman who apparently downed most of a bottle of wine before mowing down four-year-old Alexa Middelaer, while the little girl was feeding a horse at the edge of a quiet street in Delta. I do have some sympathy for Berner, who made a tragic mistake and will have to live with it forever.

But mainly, as the father of three daughters, I just feel overwhelming sympathy for the parents of that beautiful little girl. Watching them talk on TV, I have wept for them. And they are not the only parents to have suffered such a tragedy …

Drunk Driving Laws
Drunk drivers are out there

So of course I was happy when the BC Government changed the Motor Vehicle Act, announcing that it was introducing the toughest drunk driving laws in Canada.

British Columbia now has some of Canada’s strictest drunk driving laws with consequences for a BAC above 0.05, and increased consequences for a BAC above 0.08. Rules differ depending on driving experience. Any novice driver with a graduated license may not drive with any alcohol in their body.

Effectively, the limit for blood alcohol levels was decreased right down to 0.05, meaning that small people cannot risk even one glass of wine. Even though this means that Maggie and I will no longer be able to go out for dinner and a bottle of wine, if these new drunk driving laws save one family from that kind of grief, who am I to complain about minor inconveniences?

Drunk Driving Laws
Drunk driving can cause devastating accidents. Photo by Hussein Isa

However, right back when it was introduced, the Times Colonist warned that “Critics of the new drunk driving laws say it will effectively decriminalize drunk driving by having many cases dealt with roadside instead of in a courtroom”. I didn’t even notice that warning – I was too busy being happy that cyclists, pedestrians and innocent motorists would be in less danger from impaired drivers.

Has our DUI  Criminal Process been Turned into Nothing but an Administrative Process?

Two months after the law was introduced, lawyer Michael Shapray was saying that what has really happened is that the government has come up with a regime to turn the criminal process that used to handle drunk drivers into an administrative process. Shapray was upset because the number of DUI clients coming into his offices had plummeted. He believes the government’s real motive with the new drunk driving laws is to alleviate the pressure on the courts, which are hamstrung by a shortage of judges and prosecutors.

 Drunk Driving Laws
Checks for drunk driving are a good thing, protecting the innocent

Apparently police used to send suspected DUI drivers in for breathalysers, which initiated criminal charges that often ended up in the courts (providing plenty of business for lawyers). Now, with the new drunk driving laws, if drivers fail a roadside screening breath test, police just seize their cars and impose the new administrative penalties. This saves the police a lot of paperwork and the courts a lot of cases. It also nets a lot of money for government, as those who blow a “fail” end up paying about $4,000 in administrative penalties. (A heavy hit for those who may have had just two glasses of wine; a get-out-of-jail-almost-free ticket for the very drunk.)

When I read this, I began to think that the new drunk driving laws that have been hailed as Canada’s toughest ever crackdown on drunk drivers was just a clever sleight of hand, designed to create the impression of cracking down, while secretly just helping balance the budget by taking pressure off the courts and bringing in revenue.

The Tragic Results of Impaired Driving

Drunk Driving Laws
Not everyone who gets hit by a drunk driver dies …

However, I changed my mind one morning, while listening to an interview on CBC with an emergency room doctor. He spoke about dealing every day with the severely injured or dying victims of drunk drivers. He spoke of the horror of having to give parents the devastating news that their child has been killed by a drunk driver. As he said, these parents will never be the same again (and I know that from personal experience too). This doctor applauded the new laws, saying that the number of victims of drunk drivers coming into his emergency room has plummeted since the new drunk driving laws came in.

All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Chart and Videos
Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Garmin Edge Explore vs Garmin Edge 530 vs Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

So now I think that whatever the motive for introducing the new tough drunk driving laws, if they are saving lives and saving people from the agony of losing their loved ones, then I am 100% behind them.

Random Roadside Checks as Well?

Then the doctor added that the new drunk driving laws don’t go far enough:  what we also need is to introduce random roadside checks. He said that in all the countries that have introduced these, crashes caused by drunk drivers have declined dramatically. (These kinds of checks are however opposed by those who believe they invade privacy rights. Personally, I don’t think anyone has the right to be privately drunk on a public road, while driving 5 tons of potentially lethal car.)

Why is this relevant to a cycling blog? Well, the doctor interviewed on CBC noted that drunk driving has been growing steadily over the years, and that presently if you are driving at night, you should expect that at least one in 42 of the cars you see will be driven by impaired drivers. Well, given that I have noticed that drivers often have difficulty noticing cyclists even when they are sober, I find this pretty terrifying.

Drunk Driving Laws
Remnants of a bicycle after being hit by a sober driver in broad daylight. Apparently, the motorist did not see the cyclist. The cyclist was seriously injured. Photo by Roadside Pictures

So I say, if even tougher drunk driving laws will make all of us safer (and when I say all of us, I include motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, little children feeding horses, and babies in strollers), then bring ’em on!

And I have to say I am finding it hard to care that fewer impaired drivers means lawyers have less work … almost as hard as I am finding it really hard to care that business in pubs and restaurants is down because patrons are drinking less before they get in their cars …

How to Stay Safe as a Teen Road User

According to statistics, the number of cyclists on America’s roads have increased to over 66 million, showing the rise in popularity of this transportation method. We all have to share the road in harmony, and needless to say, cyclists are at the highest risk of injury. So what can teen drivers do to keep themselves and others safe on the road? Teens are more at risk of an accident on the road due to:

  • Increased cell phone use while driving
  • Ability to succumb to peer pressure from passengers
  • Increased use of alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel
  • Easily distracted
  • Elevated confidence when first learning to drive

Teenage drivers are also more likely to take risks and are less likely to spot hazards, such as a cyclist coming up at their rear. Parents can help teens stay safer by becoming great role models, both on their bicycle and in their car.

Read more here on how to stay safe as a teenage driver.

Let’s all stay sober, and avoid killing anyone! I will conclude with this timeless quote:

“How about if we all just try to follow these very simple Rules of the Road? Drive like the person ahead on the bike is your son/daughter. Ride like the cars are ambulances carrying your loved ones to the emergency room. This should cover everything …” Letter to VeloNews from David Desautels, Fort Bragg, California

Check Out Our Most Popular Posts!

  • 7 of the Best Health and Fitness Trackers
  • Best Budget gifts for cyclists
    Best Budget Gifts for Cyclists - Under $15 and Under $30
  • Our Ultimate Gift Guide for Cyclists - 90 Top Picks from Budget to Luxury
  • They look the same - but there are quite a lot of differences!. Garmin edge 1030 plus vs 1040 bike computers
    What's NEW about the Garmin Edge 1040? Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus: What’s the Difference?
  • All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
    ALL GARMIN EDGE BIKE COMPUTERS COMPARED! 130 Plus vs Explore 2 vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus vs 1040
  • 7 of the Best Budget Bike Computers
  • 7 best dog bike baskets
    7 of the Best Carriers to Take Your Dog on Bike Rides
  • This graphic shows you the relative sizes of the 530 (left), 1030 Plus (center), and 830 (right)
    Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus vs 1040 Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison with Reviews and Videos
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
  • 7 of the best indoor bike trainers
    7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers
  • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs. 1030 Plus. Would a much CHEAPER bike computer work for you?
  • 7 of the Best Cheap Bike Computers under $65 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
  • 7 of the Best Fitness Trackers for Cyclists to Track Bike Rides
  • Best road bike saddles
    9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles for Men and Women - Video-Packed Post
  • 7 of the Best Bike Computers
  • 5 of the Best Smart Indoor Trainers for Effective Indoor Training
  • 9 of the best waterproof cycling jackets for men and women. A great waterproof cycling jacket will keep you dry, and at the same time be breathable, so that you don't overheat your core
    7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Jackets for Men and Women
  • 7 of the best waterproof cycling pants for men and women
    7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women
  • The Garmin Edge 830 on Maggie's bike
    Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 vs 1040
  • Get a new bike, and then get outside and have fun!
    7 Great Budget Bikes You Can Buy on Amazon - Cruiser, Mountain, Road and Hybrid
  • Our Most Popular Cycling Fitness Plans
    Our Most Popular Cycling Fitness Plans
  • Waterproof cycling jackets - group of cyclists
    Best Waterproof Cycling Gear - Includes Jackets, Pants, Gloves, and Balaclavas
  • Great bike lights will light up the night for you! Just be sure to get the ones that are right for you
    7 of the Best Bike Lights
  • 7 of the Best Women's Cycling Jackets
  • 7 of the Best Windproof Cycling Jackets - Find a Great Cycling Jacket Now!
  • How to Choose the Safest Headphones for Cycling
  • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers Compared
  • 7 of the Best Child Bike Seats Compared
  • How to Buy the Best Electric Bike
  • 7 best bike locks
    7 of the Best Bike locks Compared. Find the Best Bike Lock For You!
  • How to Train Your Dog to Safely Run Next to You When You Are Cycling
    How to Train Your Dog to Safely Run Next to You When You Are Cycling

Did you enjoy this post or find it helpful? If so, please support our blog!


average-joe-cyclist-mug-shot copyWe write this blog because we love cycling. But we also need to earn a living, so we REALLY would appreciate if you click through to one of our reputable affiliates for your online shopping. We are proudly affiliated with Amazon, which sells pretty much everything, and has outstanding shipping and return policies. When you buy from our affiliates we make a small commission, and this is the only way we earn any income. Plus, it costs you nothing at all - a real win/win situation!
Shop at Amazon in the USA:
Shop at Amazon in Canada:
Shop at Amazon in the UK:

Related

Pin
Share
Tweet

Filed Under: Bike Safety, Cycling Infrastructure Tagged With: Bike Safety, Drunk drivers, Safe cycling infrastructure, Yeah I wanna cycle without getting killed!

Comments

  1. D says

    November 26, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    And yet, if you want to operate a neighbourhood public house, you know, the kind of pub around the corner within stumbling distance, the City of Vancouver requires by law that you also provide one parking space for every 18.6 square metres of floor area open to the public in your establishment. The City of Vancouver effectively insists that bartenders dedicate their site to offering parking for their liquor-consuming patrons at a ratio of 1:2 (9 square metres for an average parking space, exclusive of drive aisle, for every 18 square metres of floor area). Presumably, somebody at the City of Vancouver has a good reason for why they require bars to offer parking to their customers, when the province as a whole is attempting to be tough on drinking-and-driving.

  2. Alex P says

    November 26, 2010 at 8:21 pm

    I used to see the roadside drinking and driving checks most weekends. I seem to remember there being cutbacks in the funding of this program a few years ago, and now I think the last time I saw one in my neighbourhood was 2006. Maybe they’re still out there in other areas, but certainly haven’t seen them near me recently.

  3. Rob Syvertsen says

    November 26, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    I fully agree, I was thrilled when the new drunk driving laws were introduced! All the talk from the bars and restaurants whining about how they’ve lost business because of the new laws just makes me sick. Since when do businesses get to put profits before safety?

    Where is the balanced reporting in the newspapers on this article? All they cover is the lost business at the bars, but what about increased business in cabs and hotels? No mention. What about the reduced accident rate? No mention. Just lost profits.

    And Carol Berners punishment is a joke. 2 and a half years? She chose to operate a 4000 lb vehicle after consuming alcohol. That was not without consequences. She’s already been in jail for a year and gets 2x credit towards her sentence. Then she’s eligible for parole after serving only 2/3 of the term. At that rate she’s already out! Now she’s claiming she shouldn’t be punished because they had no right detaining her after she ran off the road and killed a child?!?

  4. Ryan says

    November 27, 2010 at 3:14 am

    I’ve been following the Berner story, mainly because I can’t believe that thing has the nerve to appeal her sentence. Be thankful you received what you did.
    IMO once you get into the drivers seat and start the car, you should be charged with attempted murder, and if you kill someone, no more of this manslaughter B.S. but first degree murder. Are people that daft nowadays you don’t know the possible results?
    I look forward to see if the judge gives her a lesser sentence. Personally I hope he comes back with an even longer one, but being Canada I’m doubtful.

    Two nights ago just down the road in Fort Erie (aprx. 35 km away) a drunk driver crashed into another car.
    The passenger of the other car died. As for the drunk? Like always, she walked away fine.

    I thought it was just me, but I’ve notice drunk driving rates going up over the past few years.
    This is why I avoid if at all possible riding past 9pm, as I have encountered impaired drivers. As if it’s not bad enough for cyclists on Canadian roads, we have to share them with drunks as well.

    I live down the street from Port Dalhousie, which is stocked full of bars during the summer. Despite being waken nightly by drunk university students walking by, I also hear cars racing by at high speeds, when I look out (to make sure those students are causing damage to my area) I see cars weaving around.
    Look at what happened this past year with this woman (who did pass my house):
    http://www.thedrunkdrivingmasses.com/2010/04/port-dalhousie-crash-under-microscope.html

    Perhaps someone else knows better, but I’ve heard some European countries have a zero tolerance for ANY alcohol in the system while driving.
    Of course when Ontario changed the legal limit people actually complained. So I guess hopes of absolute zero tolerance will never happen.

    I’m not sure how holiday ride programs are in BC, but I’m tired of the OPP and media informing people WHEN and WHERE these checks are going to be.
    Hopefully they have more spread out starting in a week or two for their Christmas blitz and do it nightly until New Years.
    After all, how many times will we hear this, this year? “drove home drunk from a Christmas party and killed 4 people”.

  5. hugo regier says

    April 8, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    would the new laws have been enacted had Berners victim been a homeless person or petty criminal? the basis behind this new legislation is relieving the govt. of having to hire more judges and prosecutors plus a tidy little cash grab

  • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs 830 vs 530

Welcome to Average Joe Cyclist!

Welcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, an average cyclist, and I write a blog for people like me. People who love cycling but will probably never win any races, and who don’t necessarily look good in Lycra! I also write the Electric Bikes Blog and Average Joe's RV Living Blog. To find our most popular posts, check out our Start Here page.

Hi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist). Joe and I have done a lot of cycling, and we share what we have learned on this blog . We also write reviews of cycling products and trails! Get to know us better HERE.

How our Product Links Work

  • You pay EXACTLY the same price, whether you use our links or go direct to the websites.
  • Earning some commission enables us to spend more time writing posts 🙂
  • THANK YOU to all the good people who have bought through our links. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Search Average Joe Cyclist!

Trending – Our Top Posts Right Now!

  • The Garmin Edge 830 on Maggie's bike Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 vs 830 vs 530 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
  • They look the same - but there are quite a lot of differences!. Garmin edge 1030 plus vs 1040 bike computers Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus: What’s the Difference?
  • Every body starts somewhere - and with enough determination, you could become one of the smiling competitors in a cycling event How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
  • Best Headphones for Safe Cycling
  • How E-Bikes Can Help Couples to Cycle Together 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
  • 7 of the best budget indoor trainers 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers for 2023
  • 7 of the best bike panniers 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2023 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
  • Winter is a good time to take a break from cycling and do some different kinds of exercise. Click here for our video about the 7 top strength building exercises for cyclists Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
  • tips for success lose weight cycling Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling

  • Click for our Best Cycling Training Plans!

Copyright © 2023 · Average Joe Cyclist, please contact us for syndication rights.

 

Loading Comments...