New approaches needed to stop drunk drivers, father of victim Danille Kerpan says

A Saskatchewan father and former politicianwhose25-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 2014 is speaking outabout stopping people before they get behind the wheel and in punishing those convicted of the crime.

AllanKerpan's daughter,Danille, was killedafter leaving Davidsonwhen she was hit head-on by a drunk driver who was on the wrong side of Highway 11.

The driver, John Koch, pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death andwas sentenced to four years in prison.

I'm advocating for the three-strike rule ...you lose yourprivilegeto drive forever; it's just that simple.- Allan Kerpan

Kerpan has become outspoken on the need forchanges tohow drunk driving cases are handled.

The former Reform Party MP and formerSaskatchewan Party MLAsays it should happen at both the federal and provincial levels.

RELATED:Impaired driving still number one killer on Sask. roads

On the federal side, he says, there should be legislationthat allows for randomroadside breath testing.

On the provincial side,there is alsomore that needs to be done, he says.

"I'm advocating for the three-strike rule,whereby if you get three [driving while impaired convictions]you lose yourprivilegeto drive forever; it's just that simple."

Along with that change, if a driver injures or kills someone while drunk, he or she ought to be prohibited from driving for at least 10 years, Kerpan said.

Speaking with host Sheila Coles onThe Morning Edition, Kerpandiscussedinitiatives underwayin Ohio andPrince Albert.

In Ohio, he said, there's legislation that "requires someone who's convicted of more than one DUI to display a bright orangelicenceplate on their vehicle. It's a shame factorandalso a tool for police officers.They can do a random check to make sure that person is not suspendedand also not driving whileintoxicated."

Far too much of our justice system is built on case law, right?- Allan Kerpan

A pilot projectin Prince Albert is making use of alicence plate reader, he explained.

After scanninga driver's plate, "instantly apolice officer cantell about the driver, if there's a DUI convictionor some other drivingrestriction."

Referring tothe four-year sentence handed to Koch, Kerpan said it gave him and his family hope for some change. He noted the average sentence in Saskatchewan is about 30 months for impaired driving causing death.

Koch also received an 11-year driving prohibition.

Kerpansaid he's hopeful that Koch's case will be taken into consideration when the trialfor Catherine McKay starts.

She'sthe driver charged with impaired driving causing the deaths of all four members of the Van de Vorst family in an early 2016 collision north of Saskatoon.