Re: “Don’t go easy on tipsy drivers,” editorial, Feb. 5.

Driving is a privilege, not a right. This is something we tend to forget. As a police officer, I was extremely grateful to read the editorial in which it was astutely pointed out that many people are impaired at low readings.

When we think of impaired driving, we automatically default to an image of a drunk driver (i.e. stumbling, slurring words). Impairment takes place long before intoxication. In my 27 years of experience, I’ve seldom encountered an impaired driver who would agree that he is indeed impaired. Because their judgment is clouded, they don’t see that their motor skills, co-ordination and ability to drive have diminished.

Any police officer who has had to make the climb up someone’s front steps to notify a family that their son or daughter is never coming home again because someone thought that they were OK to drive will tell you that the pursuit of safe roads and safe communities should always trump someone’s perceived “right” to consume alcohol and then drive home.

If you disagree, why don’t you accompany one of us the next time we have to make such a visit?

Cpl. Scott Hilderley

RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service

Victoria

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