Since when is the onus on the public to watch over our roads to keep them safe from individuals who 'choose' to get behind the wheel and drive drunk?
Some people with a conscience, such as Tignish/Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry, volunteer their time periodically to hopefully keep individuals who have imbibed too much to reach their destinations safely.
Drunk drivers obviously aren't intimidated by the law so why would they take advantage of a free ride from the sober public?
To his credit Mr Perry offered his services on New Years Eve past and a handful or two of revellers took advantage of it.
Mr Perry's concern for the welfare of the general driving public is worthy of applause but neither he, nor anyone else, should be expected to provide that type of safety net to drinkers on weekends or any given day of the week for that matter.
Sadly though it has become the norm for court reports to include one or more instances of Islanders facing impaired driving charges. Far too many of those names on the docket are repeat offenders.
Guilty pleas are made, drivers are fined and licenses suspended for one year or more depending on the case and guilty parties are sent to jail. The ages of these individuals vary and some, but not all, are remorseful for their actions. The names of those who have taken responsibility for their actions don't repeatedly appear on the court docket but those are in the minority. However, whether it's one time or 10 society should not be expected to take action on those numbers.
But that appears to have happened. Drunk drivers have forced the hand of people like Mr Perry. It's so wrong no matter how you look at it.
Drunk drivers have made their unconscionable actions everyone's problem.
Society can rationalize the fact there are people driving on our roads drunk but police can't be everywhere all the time.
So, suggesting plausible reasons as to why there continues to be drunk drivers is no solution to the problem.
We can also acknowledge the fact there are an increasing number of reports from the general public when they suspect someone is driving drunk.
Still, nothing is resolved. There is no onus, in the minds of drunk drivers, to stay home or arrange a ride with someone who is sober. If these drivers were responsible, they wouldn't drink and get behind the wheel in the first place. It's a dilemma.
PEI is no different than other provinces in the country that face the same issue.
Organizations can offer Operation Red Nose, which likens to the theory behind Mr Perry's actions and is provided in some communities on the mainland, Island police can peddle its 911 campaign until the cows come home, but someone in this province who has had too much to drink will inevitably put their keys in the ignition and drive off.
And consequently the public will continue to partially bear the burden of a situation they have no control over.
Last year at least five people died on Island highways involving alcohol while hundreds of impaired drivers faced judges.
Could a public program have prevented that?
Heather Moore is editor of The Eastern Graphic. She can be reached at editor@peicanada.com