A Quebec coroner is calling on the province's automobile insurance board to do more to help prevent repeat drunk driving as well as to wrap up its analyses that would allow the government to finally bring into effect its new law imposing alcohol ignition interlock devices on recidivists for a minimum period of ten years
Andrée Kronström made the recommendations in her 13-page report on the 2015 death of Vincent Barbe.
The 26-year-old driver slammed into a police cruiser at 161 km/h and then hit a concrete divider in Blainville.
Kronström said that alcohol, speed, using his cellphone and not wearing a seat belt were all factors in Barbe's death.
But the coroner focused on how the repeat drunk driver got his permit back and had his alcohol ignition interlock device removed from his car just weeks before the fatal accident. He had the device in his car for three years and eight months.
Barbe was convicted twice in the past of driving while impaired.
Barbe himself asked for the device to be installed after his latest drunk driving conviction - a voluntary measure that Kronström pointed out was not well known and should be more publicized.
The device was taken out after the restriction period was over, even though the Quebec automobile insurance board - SAAQ - was never aware Barbe tried numerous times to start his car when he was drunk. It also doesn't collect stats on how the devices are used.
The coroner also recommends more people be made aware they can call in anonymously and report motorists they suspect are driving drunk.
The government adopted its stricter amendments to the Highway Safety Code in the spring but the one involving alcohol ignition interlock devices and repeat drunk drivers is not yet in effect because of the delays in the preparatory work by the SAAQ.