What does a designated driver do?

• Drinks only non-alcoholic beverages.
• Provides safer and sober transportation home for companions.
• A designated driver provides "life-insurance" for a group’s trip home and helps friends avoid embarrassment, keep their driving licenses and avoid fines and jail terms.

Figures from Canada for Justice statistics show a continued decline in impaired driving over the last 20 years. The rate of persons charged in 2002 was 2.65 persons per 1,000 aged 16 and over (declining from 1981 where the rate was 8.6 persons per 1000). Between 1992 and 2002, the rate of people charged with impaired driving has dropped 45%.

. The public accepts that promoting the use of designated drivers is a good way to help reduce the problems of drunk driving.

The Canadian national blood standard of .08 BAC (blood alcohol concentration) - i.e. the amount of alcohol in blood - is the standard for determining drunk driving under the criminal code. This BAC applies in all provinces and territories. Most of these jurisdictions will temporarily suspend a driver's license should a breathalyzer exceed .05 BAC. In Sash the limit is .04, in Quebec and territories it is .08 with Quebec moving toward a lowering of its limit. If driving on a temporary or learner's permit , the BAC is zero.		A Drink is defined as 5 fluid ounces of wine 12% alc by vol (100 calories) 12 fluid ounces of regular beer /cider 5% alc by volume (150 calories) 1.5 fluid ounce (jigger) distilled spirits 40% alc by volume (100 calories)

A standard drink will raise your blood alcohol level by approximately .04 BAC or even .05 if you are a woman drinking without food. remember your blood alcohol level will rise more quickly if you have a drink on an empty stomach, but alcohol will stay in you body longer if you drink with food. On average your liver will break down ¾ of a unit an hour. If you have drunk heavily the night before, you may risk being over the limit the next morning. for more information, visit www.b4udrink.org

Don't Risk It

If you drink over the limit and drive , you risk imprisonment, fines and disqualification from driving. You also risk other people's lives as well as your own. SO if you're going to drink, make sure that you nominate a designated driver

Driving Abroad?

Many countries have lower BAC legal driving levels than Canada, including most countries in Europe.

For information on BAC levels and the law relating to countries worldwide please click here