How impaired driving can impact your insurance rates
It’s one of the first and most common things you’ll hear about driving a car: “Don’t drink and drive.” Simple enough advice, yet people continue to get into trouble for getting behind the wheel while impaired.
Impaired driving greatly increases the chance of injuring or killing someone in a collision. It can also end up costing you a lot of money, thanks to fines, repair costs, and (of course) higher insurance rates.
Here’s a breakdown of what driving under the influence means and what happens if you do it:
What is meant by “impaired”?
Impaired driving is a catch all term to refer to the crime of operating a motor vehicle (cars, trucks, boats, snowmobiles, and ATVs) while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There is a similar but separate law that defines the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration while driving as 80mg of alcohol in 100mL of blood (0.08). The penalties for both offences are identical.
If a police officer stops your vehicle and suspects you of impaired driving, they may ask you to perform a field sobriety test or take you in for a blood or urine test. It is a crime to refuse a drug/sobriety test unless the person can show they had a reasonable excuse for not complying.
Your car insurance rates rise
The fine for impaired driving varies from province to province, but it’s not cheap: a minimum of $1,000. That ticket goes on your driving record, which is used by insurance companies to help determine your car insurance premium. Riskier drivers cost more to insure, so a car owner who has been caught driving drunk will be quoted at a much higher rate.
You lose driving privileges
There’s a minimum 12-month driving prohibition with your first offence in Canada. Repeat offenders face a two-year ban. Do this three times or more and you will be banned from getting behind the wheel for three years.
You face serious jail time
Impaired driving affects more than just you. If the worst happens while you’re on the road, there’s a good chance you might seriously injure or even kill someone. If that happens, you will face way more than a fine or a slap on the wrist. Depending on the severity of the offence, impaired driving can lead to anywhere from a month in jail to a life sentence if someone has been killed because of the offence.
Choose an option for a safe ride
The risks associated with driving while impaired are too high to justify doing it, from higher car insurance rates to the possibility that you injure or kill someone. If you need to get somewhere when you’ve been drinking or getting high, know that you have options for doing it safely. Plan ahead and have a ride in mind:
- Call a taxi
- Get an Uber
- Call a friend to pick you up
- Use a designated driver
Today, there is no reason to drive impaired. Be safe for your sake and the sake of others.