There were several reasons why I started this blog.  One was to have an outlet through writing about my own experience and hopefully if found by others, it might prevent someone from taking the risk of driving while impaired.

Secondly, there is and continues to be the motivation for earning revenues.  I’m not going to mince words:  My mistake has cost me big time financially.  And it’s worse than for most people who are charged and convicted of impaired driving – the majority of impaired drivers are caught at a roadside test or are pulled over by the police before an accident occurs.  I had an accident.  My insurance company views my accident as a breach of contract and therefore will not pay for repairs to a vehicle that I am still making payments on.

I needed that vehicle in order to drop in and visit clients. I needed that vehicle in order to spend time with my kids who do not live with me.   So in addition to the legal costs, the fine, the restitution, the lawyer’s fees, there have been other financial and emotional costs. I needed to find a way to turn that into some kind of positive or some way to help myself pay for my mistakes. So certainly, there is a financial goal of this blog as well – although at this point, it has not even come close to helping pay what is going to be to most people (myself included) an enormous debt. But writing is one thing I can do.

Thirdly, when I had my accident and was charged, I wanted and had a need for information.  There was very little information out there.  There was bits and pieces of information from lawyer’s websites, from the Ministry of Transportation websites, the Federal Government website, and other sites here and there.  I hoped I could, through my own writing and experience, document my experience and in doing so, perhaps help others that might end up going through something similar to me.

In Ontario, a convicted driver of an alcohol related driving offense must attend the Back On Track Program.  However, there is no information as to what it entails other some stuff about paying an enormous fee (600.00), going for an “assessment,” and attending treatment and/or education.  What is it? How does it run?  I had no idea. No one seemed to have any information about what any of this entailed. What should I expect? How should I prepare?  No one seemed to really know, and I don’t know anyone personally who’s been convicted of an alcohol related offense in recent years to talk with.

So that was another motivation for this website.

Well, I’ve attended my education class. I will write more about it in Part Two. Before I write more detail however, let me say that it was quite well done. The information was very good, and the facilitators were excellent.  Worth paying $600.00 for?  I’ll have comments on that as well – and perhaps some ideas on how to make it better.

If you’re scheduled to begin participation in the “Back on Track” program, first of all, don’t fret. Yes, it is expensive – but it is a decent program – in most respects.  At least the one I participated in thus far has been facilitated by excellent people who have done a very good job.

In the meantime….  Related Posts:

Back On Track Assessment

My thoughts on the assessment portion of the Back On Track program.

Back On Track Homework

The homework that is assigned after the Back On Track Assessment

Back On Track Education Exercise

The first exercise in the participant workbook – homework assigned before you attend the education class