The provincial government's policy to disallow drivers 21 and under from having any alcohol before driving will only work if there's a complementary cultural change among young drivers.
To recap, as of Sunday, anyone 21 and younger in the province must have a zero blood alcohol level when they get behind the wheel. It's a bold step and one that's not without its detractors.
Reducing incidences of drunken driving is a noble goal but one that is not fulfilled with the passage of a bill at Queen's Park. When it comes to enacting cultural change, these are steps in a longer process.
If this is a valuable proactive measure, there needs to be an open accounting of the result of the legislation from the province.
What benchmarks prove the value of the legislation?
Is it actually leading to a successful reduction in the aberrant behaviour? If not, why not? Indicators of success, such as fewer alcohol-related crashes and deaths, need to be documented and publicized. It's essential to educate our future drivers so they are encouraged to make the right decisions. Youth must be shown that the legislation means fewer people will die as a result.
The province is citing statistics that show younger drivers are involved in a disproportionate percentage of vehicular accidents. Following through with regular progress reports will ultimately show whether that reason is good enough to justify this legislation. It will also show the province is serious about proactively dealing with a challenge rather than simply reacting.
Taking the opportunity to better educate the population on the dangers of drinking and driving is an excellent complementary investment.
Opponents have pointed out the legislation unfairly targets an age group regardless of driving experience or ability and it's a legitimate consideration. At the same time, we need to remember, driving is a privilege - not a right.
Philosophically, we're generally opposed to too much government regulation. In this case, however, until there's a culture shift, we're more fearful of the carnage that results from drinking and driving.
It is the government's role to inform, and enable their citizens - not simply restrict them. Positive changes in attitudes toward smoking in public places and recycling are examples of where we're experiencing success.
Attitudes toward drinking and driving will need to follow a similar pattern. Legislating it alone won't make it so.