When retired elementary school teacher Barb Copp broke her arm last March during an impromptu wake at her home after the sudden death of her best friend, she never dreamed it would result in the suspension of her driver’s licence.
But less than two months after blood tests taken during an emergency room visit that night showed her liver enzymes were out of whack, Ms. Copp was quietly reported to the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) as “alcohol dependent” by her family doctor. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/christie-blatchford/how-a-retired-teacher-lost-her-licence-for-drinking-at-home/article1869565/
While I agree that driving is a privilege, the specifics of this story makes me wonder if a lock-out system that tests for impairment could be a more effective approach. This approach should also be considered for safety sensitive occupations such as heavy equipment operators where the goal should be to monitor and detect impairment, including impairment due to a lack of sleep, instead of focusing on lifestyle or health issues.
