Montreal, May 12, 2011 – Attending a Ford event as part of the ''Sur la route en toute sécurité'' tour, traffic safety expert Robert Poeti spoke with Auto123.com about various actions Quebec could take to make the roads safer.
Earlier this week, coroner Yvon Garneau recommended a curfew for drivers aged 16 to 24 following the tragic death of a young group of four in Drummondville last October. Needless to say this dramatic proposal created a stir across the province and in parts of Canada.
Poeti sure thought it was too extreme, arguing that only drivers aged 16 to 18 should be the focus. However, a major obstacle still stands in the way of the government and safety organizations – the law that limits fines for minors to $100.
He suggested an amendment that would impose the same fines on minors as adults. In his opinion, such a decision would be justifiable since driving is an adult responsibility that can have an impact on the safety of others. Penalties should be determined accordingly.
Most minors probably can't afford to pay hefty fines, so their parents would have to step in. And since no parent likes to pay for their kids' mistakes, they would further restrict the use of their automobile and promote good judgement behind the wheel in an effort to curb dangerous driving. Some of the latest technologies offered by automakers would also play a bigger role, including Ford's MyKey.
This device can limit a car's top speed at 100, 110, 120 or 130 km/h, sound powerful chimes at 75, 90 and 105 km/h, and lower audio volume to 44 percent of total volume.
Available in a number of Ford and Lincoln models, MyKey can also mute the stereo until the safety belt is buckled and prevent traction control from being deactivated.
As advanced as they might be, all the electronic aids in the world cannot stop ill-advised behaviour behind the wheel. Effective education and promotion campaigns will always be necessary.
''Advertisements like the latest one aimed at deterring texting while driving seem to resonate more with older drivers than young ones. Unfortunately, the government has yet to find the winning recipe'', Poeti concluded.
Earlier this week, coroner Yvon Garneau recommended a curfew for drivers aged 16 to 24 following the tragic death of a young group of four in Drummondville last October. Needless to say this dramatic proposal created a stir across the province and in parts of Canada.
Poeti sure thought it was too extreme, arguing that only drivers aged 16 to 18 should be the focus. However, a major obstacle still stands in the way of the government and safety organizations – the law that limits fines for minors to $100.
He suggested an amendment that would impose the same fines on minors as adults. In his opinion, such a decision would be justifiable since driving is an adult responsibility that can have an impact on the safety of others. Penalties should be determined accordingly.
Most minors probably can't afford to pay hefty fines, so their parents would have to step in. And since no parent likes to pay for their kids' mistakes, they would further restrict the use of their automobile and promote good judgement behind the wheel in an effort to curb dangerous driving. Some of the latest technologies offered by automakers would also play a bigger role, including Ford's MyKey.
This device can limit a car's top speed at 100, 110, 120 or 130 km/h, sound powerful chimes at 75, 90 and 105 km/h, and lower audio volume to 44 percent of total volume.
Available in a number of Ford and Lincoln models, MyKey can also mute the stereo until the safety belt is buckled and prevent traction control from being deactivated.
As advanced as they might be, all the electronic aids in the world cannot stop ill-advised behaviour behind the wheel. Effective education and promotion campaigns will always be necessary.
''Advertisements like the latest one aimed at deterring texting while driving seem to resonate more with older drivers than young ones. Unfortunately, the government has yet to find the winning recipe'', Poeti concluded.