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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-12-18, Page 7DURIN THIS HOLI 'T Imagine your family's happy Christmas celebration shattered by a senseless tragedy : a loved one killed or in- jured at the hands of a drunk driver. Everyone knows it is wrong to drink and drive, but nobody has had as much one-on-one experience with the effects of drinking and driving as Dr. J. K. McGregor of Wingham, coroner. Over the years as coroner and in his own medical practice, Dr. McGregor says he has seen the carnage inflicted by drinking and driving, particularly upon young people. He has seen and felt the tragic loss when a young Life is snuffed out needlessly and he has developed some very strong views on the subject. Dr. McGregor said he feels society has not handled the problem of drinking and driving properly and until it does, he is pessimistic that any stepped-up police movement to crack down upon drunk drivers will do anything to rid the menace from our roads. The present punishment system of fines, license suspen- sions and prison terms does little, in the doctor's opinion, to deter habitual offenders. What he proposes is some form of public humiliation for these people. He suggests a means of punishment that does not inflict bodily harm, such as the stocks which were abandoned many years ago. Offenders would be'put on public display for their wrongdoings, for example, on the lawn at the town hall. Dr. McGregor said by realizes many people would consider this a regressive act, but he believes some form of public humiliation is necessary if repeat offenders are to be deterred. He also said he would like to see habitual offenders driving brilliant yellow vehicles so other motorists could recognize them and be on the lookout. Some people might find his views quite incredible, but not too many of them have had to tell someone at three o'clock in the morning that their son or daughter is dead. 0-0-0 William Keil of Wingham is one person who always has taken drinking and driving very seriously. He must: he sells insurance. Drinking and driving costs a lot in human terms, but it costs offenders plenty in increased insurance costs, ac- cording to Mr. Keil. Over one-half of traffic fatalities involve impaired drivers, he said and those fatalities cost insurance companies and their customers a lot of money. Getting caught in a routine spot check will mean an in- crease to your insurance of approximately 65 per cent. Two impaired charges will mean insurance rates could climb by as much as 150 per cent, said Mr,. Keil. For as long as there have been automobiles there have been those who insist upon drinking and driving. However society's altitude toward the drunk driver seems to be changing, said Mr. Keil and we are seeing evidence of this in tougher new legislation to curb the problem. y SEAS The Wingham Advance -Times, Dec. 18, 1985—Page 7 Insurance companies are taking an even tougher stance with the drinking driver and some companies Won't even insure a person who has -a drinking and driving record. The insurance rates do not come down either until three years have elapsed since the conviction. 0-0-0 Sergeant John McKee of the Wingham detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police said he hopes recent changes in the Criminal Code regarding drinking and driving will have some effect on this serious problem. In his 22 years as a police officer, Sgt. McKee said he has seen a number of senseless deaths caused by drinking drivers. However he feels the outlook is brighter today because people are becoming more conscious of the threat posed to society by drinking drivers. The changes in the Criminal Code increase the fines and prison sentences for people convicted of impaired driving and the.Ontario government is prepared to institute a one- year, first -offense suspension of driving privileges for those convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol. The sergeant said his detachment has found the routine spot check to be an effective way to fight drinking and driving and the OPP will be stepping up its spot check effort during the holiday season, although it does run spot checks periodically throughout the year. Public awareness is the best way to fight the problem, says Sgt. McKee and he sees subtle changes, such as the designated -driver program and groups taking buses to functions rather than risking an impaired charge. 0-0-0 There has been a lot of talk about how the new, stricter drinking and driving laws will affect tavern owners. Rod Renwick, one of the new owners of the hotel in Teeswater, has given the matter a lot of thought and intends to do something about it. Mr. Renwick said he realizes people may be hesitant to drive to a hotel and risk being caught in a spot check on their way home. Itis for that reason that he has decided to provide a shuttle service to his customers to drive them home after the hotel closes. He said he plans to go to Walkerton and Wingham if his customers are interested in such a service. He looks at it as a way to protect himself and attract clientele. He also hopes to offer a new menu in an effort to take the emphasis off the drinking aspect. Other local groups are taking advantage of the designated - driver program whereby one person in the crowd swears off alcohol for the evening and drives everyone else home. Some hotel owners even provide free soft drinks to designated drivers. The Brewers of Ontario also recently got into the effort with its "None for the Road" safe -driving campaign. The brewers have sponsored advertisements in large Ontario newspapers and have displayed posters in Brewers' Retail stores throughout the province. �''.!!- 1: ��•, � .: 1'MEMORIALS .1"1117.7s '11:' CANADIAN CRANE RENTALS LTD. 15, 25, 40 ton?hydraulic crane 13/4 yd. hydraulic backhoe Boom length up to 170 ft. Fully insured, licensed operators RR 2 . 357-3721 Wingham 335-3344 c� C° the c000pelatoYs Insurance Services Keith Adams Sales Representative 8 Alfred Street, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 Life, Auto, Home. Commercial, Farm, Travel. Bus: (519) 357-3739 Res: (519) 357-1847 n eMC The Wingham 0.N °- WI NG MAIN ' Io �a-' s • Have WINGHAM 348 Josephine St., Wingham Phone 357-1910 or 357-1015 Town of a Safe & Happy Holiday JOHN CULLEN CHEV- "The People Pleasers" Pleasing You Pleases Us KEIL INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. 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