Editorial: A tragic part of festive season

Source: Carman Valley Leader

MANITOBA - Sadly it happens every year during holiday season not only in our province but across the country.

While Christmas and New Year's should be a time for families and friends to enjoy, it's also a time where needless tragedies happen.

The enjoyment of the season gets twisted and becomes dangerous - even fatal.

Impaired driving remains the frustration of society and people like local MADD representative Doug Mowbray, RCMP and innocent (and sober) motorists along with their families and friends.

Impaired driving has long been legally and socially unacceptable.

In addition to the social message comes tougher criminal penalties and the real potential for impaired drivers killing themselves and/or others.

But there always seems to be motor vehicle collisions around the holiday season and in some instances fatalities, where as the RCMP say; "alcohol is believed to be a factor".

On The Road At The Same Time

It's also not uncommon to have collisions where the impaired driver not only does injury to themselves and passengers, but to a victim or victims who have the tragically bad luck of merely being on the road at the same time.

What makes it maddening for anti-impaired driving advocates is the message is so simple - if you're going to drink then don't drive.

The RCMP are trying to do their part through the annual Checkstop program that attempts to target drunk drivers with random checkstops and patrols across the province including the Carman-area.

Yet with the threat of criminal penalties or fatal collisions, impaired drivers continue to take their chances and hit the road.

Let's hope that this holiday season brings the unexpected present of a drastic reduction and hopefully total elimination of impaired drivers behind the wheel.

It's a Christmas wish that benefits everyone.