It’s all pie-in-the-sky thinking

Re Shaming just doesn’t work, editorial, Dec. 9

Everybody, including the Star Editorial Board, is still just beating around the bush on the issue of impaired driving. Of course the Star is right that the “naming and shaming” proposal of the York Regional Police should never be applied until a person is convicted.

And the Star is also right to suggest that “naming and shaming” likely won’t make a difference. But to suggest that the solution lies in people doing “the only sensible and moral thing: if you’ve been drinking, simply don’t drive” — is pie-in-the-sky thinking.

The only option that we have yet to try, and the only one that will work, is zero tolerance — along with tough enforcement.

Let people decide to drink or not knowing that if they are caught behind the wheel having consumed any alcohol at all they will face mandatory jail time and let’s see if drinking and driving behaviour doesn’t change real fast.

Nothing else has worked. Is the time for bold action not long overdue?

What have we got to lose by trying zero tolerance? It won’t stop people from drinking alcohol. They will instead find new ways to do so without putting all of us at risk.

Restaurants and bars won’t close. They will come up with creative strategies to keep customers coming in and getting home safely rather than just sending impaired people out the front door to their waiting cars as they do now.

Of course, zero tolerance is nothing but pie-in-the-sky thinking, too. This will never happen.

The truth is that too many people like the convenience of being able to drink and drive regardless of the possible horrific consequences. And that likely includes many, if not most, of our lawmakers. How else can we account for their total silence on this issue? Regrettably, the carnage on our roads will likely continue forever. Keith Noble, Toronto