For Immediate Release
December 8, 2005

Sterling celebrates decreasing drinking and driving statistics
Reminds residents of Lanark-Carleton to arrive alive this holiday season

Queen’s Park, Toronto –  Initiatives undertaken by the Ontario government under Premier Mike Harris have proven, according to the Auditor General, to decrease the incidents of drinking and driving convictions and related accidents, Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling told members of the Legislature yesterday.

Sterling quoted the Auditor General’s Report for 2005 in which Auditor General Jim McCarter states:  “In recent years the Ministry (of Transportation) has established two road user safety programs that target drinking drivers:  the Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension Program (ADDLS) and the Ignition Interlock Program.”  McCarter goes on to say:  “We analyzed the rates of drinking-and-driving related collisions and convictions before and after the introduction of these programs and notes that these rates have been declining.  Accordingly, it appears that these programs have been successful in contributing to improved road safety.”

Sterling commended fellow Member Garfield Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, for his private members’ bill which brought Ignition Interlock to Ontario three years ago this month.  “As Minister of Transportation at the time I was honoured to be involved in bringing this idea to fruition,” said Sterling.  “It is gratifying to know that our efforts in this area have had a real and measureable impact in the lives of Ontarians.”

Sterling finished his statement to the Legislature by reminding all Ontarians that if they are drinking they should not be driving and wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday.

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 For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900