A MADD Toast. By Dr. Peter W. Kujtan, B.Sc., M.D., Ph.D.

He is one of the most dangerous people around this holiday season. Your are more likely to meet him between midnight and 3a.m. His blood alcohol level is over the legal limit of 0.08 mm/L, and his choice of drink tends to be beer. He is most likely to be male, and to have been driving for less than seven years. His enjoyment of alcohol has been noticed by friends or even police. On many occasions I have stood and listened to him explain to me exactly why it is not his fault without any acknowledgment of the carnage lying before him. As a provincial coroner, it is one of the most tragic investigations to conduct. There is little you can do to protect yourself when you do meet him, but a lot more can be done to avoid that meeting.

Drunk driving refers to the inability to safely navigate a motor vehicle due to the influence of alcohol. This includes; boats, cars, motorcycle, snowmobiles and ATV's. Alcohol effects differ between people depending on type of drinks, food and genetic make-up. The only certainty is that no one is immune. Intoxication is best measured by lung or blood levels. Judgment and inhibition is impaired. Deciding on your own sobriety is like having the wolf count chickens.

In Canada alone, there are about 1400 tragic deaths on an annual basis due to accidents involving alcohol and drugs, particularly pain killers. Roughly 10 percent of all collisions involve alcohol. But, when alcohol is present the severity and fatality rates skyrocket. Between midnight and 3 a.m., almost 80 percent of fatal collisions involve alcohol. Almost 40 percent of all crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol abuse is without boundaries. It affects princes and paupers alike.

MADD stands for Mothers against Drunk Drivers. It is a volunteer organization founded in California, but very active in Canada. It is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims. Every death or severe injury results in dozens of affected friends and family. Tens of thousands of people are affected by the problem. They have advocated for changes in laws and behavior. There has been some good news. In Ontario, changes to the driving system cut the fatality rate in half between 1988 and 2001. Graduated licensing, designated drivers and the ability to immediately suspend licenses are measures that have helped. More needs to be done. Zero tolerance to any alcohol level applies to all those with learning type licenses. It disappears when you obtain a G license. There is a peak in alcohol fatalities that corresponds to new G drivers. Extending the zero tolerance a few more years may help a lot. Drivers who blow over 0.05 at a spot check receive a 12 hour suspension without a permanent record. Driving is a privilege and not a right. Repeat offenders need to be identified and rigidly dealt with.

As you begin to celebrate the arrival of the New Year there are ways to hedge your bet. Any time that I drive after midnight I just assume that everyone around me is drunk and adopt a very defensive driving posture. If you are hosting a party, I would suggest that all driving guests surrender their keys to a designated person. The guest must pass a store-bought alcohol test to retrieve them. You can make a pleasant game out of it. Alternately, hire a designated driver to pick-up or drop off guests. Refrain from the "open bar" concept. It is far better to have a sober bar host serving drinks. Low alcohol and "virgin" specialty drinks are sensible alternatives, particularly for those who do not wish to stick out. Serving coffee does not promote or speed up sobriety. Have a wonderfully safe and prosperous New Year, and let's not meet by accident!