Driver Licensing > Consequences of Unsafe Driving
Driving While Impaired > Drinking and Driving any Vehicle is a Crime
Drinking and driving threatens everyone’s safety. Manitoba’s tough laws on drinking and driving apply to all motor vehicles including off-road vehicles (ORVs) and special mobile machines (SMMs).
Off-road vehicles are any motorized vehicles designed or adapted for cross-country travel on land, water, ice, snow, marsh or other natural terrain, and some examples are:
• snowmobiles
• all-terrain vehicles
• dirt bikes
Special Mobile Machines are heavy or agricultural equipment, and some examples are:
• tractors
• combines
• front-end loaders
• forklifts
• graders
• cranes
If you drink and drive a motor vehicle, off-road vehicle or special mobile machine, you will lose the right to drive
Impaired Driving Laws
There are several penalties for driving any vehicle while impaired. All penalties apply to drivers of off-road vehicles and special mobile machines as well as motor vehicles.
Effective December 1, 2006, Manitoba drivers convicted in the United States of impaired driving offences will receive the same sanctions as they would if convicted in Manitoba. These include licence suspension, ten demerits, and a reinstatement charge. The conviction may also result in ignition interlock restrictions, and higher insurance premiums.
- Your vehicle may be impounded if you have a blood alcohol concentration level of over .08 or refuse to provide a breath or blood sample.
- You can lose your vehicle permanently if you cause an accident that kills or physically harms someone, even if it’s a first offence.
- Your driver’s licence can be suspended for anywhere from one year to life.
- All new drivers are subject to penalties under the zero blood alcohol concentration (0 BAC) restriction.
- Some drivers may be required to participate in Manitoba’s Ignition Interlock Program.
Drugs
Prescription Drugs
Tranquillizers, antidepressants, sleeping pills and similar drugs can affect driving ability even if taken in the prescribed dosage. Accordingly, if you continue to drive while impaired by any medication, you can be charged with driving while impaired. This will result in the same consequences as if you were impaired by alcohol. Discuss the possible effects of any medication with your doctor or pharmacist.
Illegal Drugs
Illicit drugs may cause hallucinations, hostility, and aggressiveness in addition to dulling normal thought processes and slowing down eye-hand coordination.
Never mix drugs and alcohol - even in small quantities.
For information contact:
Addiction Foundation of Manitoba
General Inquiries call (204) 944-6200
Website: www.afm.mb.ca
Email: library@afm.mb.ca
What can you do to prevent other people from driving while impaired?
When you host a party, you can also take steps to discourage guests from driving home if they have had too much to drink. Here are some suggestions:
- Set up “house rules” that make driving home after drinking too much not
acceptable. Tell your guests about these rules before they arrive! Then they
can make alternative plans for going home if they plan to drink. - Offer guests fruit juices, mineral water and soft drinks as alternatives to
alcoholic beverages. - Don’t serve “one for the road.” It’s a good idea to close the bar at least one
hour before the party ends. Encourage guests to stay for a while by serving
food and tea, coffee or other non-alcoholic beverages at this point. - Have enough spare cash on hand to lend to friends for taxi fare.
- Be prepared to have some guests stay overnight if necessary. A little
inconvenience and embarrassment (theirs, not yours) are far better than
risking impaired driving.
You don’t have to stop with just yourself or family and friends. Those of us who belong to groups or clubs can challenge other members to share a leading role in preventing impaired driving. Many groups and organizations sponsor parties and other social events where alcohol is served. All members can participate in making sure no one drives after drinking. People can take turns not drinking so they may drive others home.
