ADJUST ATTITUDES

Understandably, there was an outpouring of deep emotion Wednesday when Catherine Loye McKay was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an impaired driving causing death incident that killed a family of four.

The pain of those who loved Jordan and Chanda Van De Vorst, their daughter Kamryn, age 5, and son Miguire, age 2, is unimaginable. Needless, avoidable, horrific and preventable are words family members used to describe their loss.

Social media lit up with comments in response to the sentencing. Much of it was focused on anger toward Ms. McKay and the decision she made to drink and drive.

“She knowingly drank until she couldn’t remember leaving the bar. She knowingly got into her vehicle and drove. She killed four people. How can 10 years be enough?” This was a typical Facebook comment posted under the StarPhoenix story post.

This long weekend, the fight against impaired driving will not be taking place in a courtroom, but at ball diamonds, in pubs, on golf courses and in backyards. The onus lies both with those who are drinking alcohol and those who witness others making the choice to drive after drinking. “He knows when he has had enough.” “She’s OK. I think she’s OK, right?” “A cab is too expensive.” These are just some of types of comments used by those who let themselves off the hook from confronting someone who is going to get in the driver’s seat after drinking.

Every person who drives while impaired has the potential to cause a tragedy of this magnitude. And everyone who stands by and watches someone get behind the wheel also holds responsibility.

Saskatchewan has a truly dismal record when it comes to impaired driving. According to SGI, every year in Saskatchewan an average of 60 people are killed and nearly 900 are injured in alcohol-related collisions involving vehicles. More than 40 per cent of all traffic deaths in the province are the result of impaired driving.

MADD Canada gave Saskatchewan a D- in its 2015 Provincial Impaired Driving Report that assesses the province’s legislative initiatives. It is important to continue to evaluate and improve upon regulations that address this issue. In the end, however, it comes down to individual choices and individual responsibility.

To honour the memories of the Van De Vorst family, expressions of sadness and outrage by the residents of this province are not enough. We must change a culture where drinking and driving is tolerated and even justified.