CAA North & East Ontario Unveils Exciting Addition to Website

Blood alcohol calculator reminds motorists that drinking and driving never mix.

Ottawa, ON (PRWEB) July 30, 2008 -- With the August long weekend approaching, CAA North & East Ontario (http://www.caaneo.ca) (CAANEO) is stepping up its efforts to eliminate impaired driving on Ontario roads by launching a Blood Alcohol Calculator (http://caaneo.ca/about/blog/blood-alcohol-calculator) on their website, www.caaneo.ca. This informative tool helps motorists to become more aware of the many dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The calculator is extremely easy to use. Simply enter your gender and weight, followed by the number of drinks you plan on having, what type of alcohol and over what period of time you plan on consuming these beverages. Your blood alcohol concentration is then calculated. The results of the test may prove eye-opening for some motorists who consider it acceptable to drive after having a few drinks, as the tool may help some people realize that the amount of alcohol they are consuming renders them legally impaired. The legal blood-alcohol limit in Ontario is 0.08%.

"We are providing an interactive web based tool for both our members and the public to help educate about the effects of alcohol," said Martin Campbell, CAANEO's Manager of Web Commerce. "The BAC Calculator is yet another example of CAA North & East Ontario's commitment to promoting awareness of this vital safety issue."

Although educative, the results of the blood alcohol calculator (http://caaneo.ca/about/blog/blood-alcohol-calculator) are merely a theoretical estimation, and web site users are reminded that the effects of alcohol can be greatly influenced by individual factors, such as age, fatigue, and hunger.

Another factor to keep in mind is time. In some cases it may take up to 30 minutes after the last consumption of alcohol for an individual to reach the highest blood alcohol concentration. Additionally, a person's ability to drive may become legally impaired at a point below the legal BAC limit.

Ultimately, the BAC calculator serves to make its users more aware of the damaging impact alcohol can have on a driver's reaction time, reflexes and coordination. However, it cannot in any case be used in opposition to the results obtained by trained officials, such as police officers trained in Breath Analysis.

"As always, the best defense against an impaired driving charge is to never, under any circumstances, drink and get behind the wheel," said Korey Kennedy, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for CAANEO. "This long weekend, CAA North & East Ontario would like to encourage all motorists to make the right choice; if you drink, don't drive."

For over 100 years, the Canadian Automobile Association has provided travel, Emergency Road Services (http://www.caaneo.ca), insurance, and advocacy for its Members. CAA North & East Ontario continues to be the leading membership organization by recognizing and promoting its heritage and integrity in the community, while maximizing Members' value.

For more information, please contact:

Ciara Cronin

Communications Specialist

Phone: (613) 721-3252

Cell: (613)290-3648

Fax: (613) 820-3462

Email: ccronin(at)caaneo.on.ca

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