October 10, 1996
(Government Services and Lands)

Road Safety Program

Ernest McLean, Minister of Government Services and Lands, and Julie Bettney, Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, are meeting with federal, provincial and territorial transport ministers in Prince Edward Island today to discuss matters of mutual concern and to develop a cooperative approach to a number of major transportation initiatives including road safety.

Newfoundland's participation in current national road safety programs began in 1990 when the province took part in the national Occupant Restraint and Impaired Driving programs launched by the federal government.

Mr. McLean said: "Newfoundland was the first jurisdiction to attain a 95 per cent seat belt use and our goal now is to maintain this figure through to the year 2001. We attained this figure as the result of our demerit point system introduced in 1990 and our roadside enforcement and advertising campaigns designed to promote the use of seat belts and the proper use of child restraint devices. The benefit of our efforts is clearly seen in the 59 per cent decrease in the number of fatalities since 1990."

Newfoundland's participation in the strategy to reduce impaired driving also began in 1990 with the implementation of enforcement campaigns and advertising programs against drinking and driving.

In December 1994, Newfoundland introduced a 24-hour suspension program for drivers exceeding a 50 mg blood alcohol concentration. Since its introduction, more than 1,300 individuals have been issued suspensions for driving while having a blood alcohol concentration between 50 and 80 mg.

Newfoundland also introduced licence suspension periods for impaired driving convictions of one, two and three years for first, second, and third convictions within a five-year period.

In November 1995, the Newfoundland Safety Council implemented their "Think First" program, a mandatory education rehabilitation program for impaired drivers. Since its implementation, approximately 300 people have participated in the program.

"Since 1990, statistics indicate a 70 per cent decrease in fatalities related to drinking and driving," Mr. McLean said.

In the near future, the province will address programs such as graduated driver licencing and licencing and regulation of driver training schools. Similar programs have been implemented in other jurisdictions and Newfoundland is currently assessing the results.

The minister said: "Newfoundland is proud of its efforts in making our highways the safest in the country. We also fully endorse the initiatives announced today by the federal Minister of Transport and we will do our part to help achieve Canada's objective of making its roads the safest in the world by 2001."

Contact: Rick Callahan, Director of Communications, 729-4860.