CANADIAN TRENDS IN DRINKING DRIVING FATALITIES

This paper describes trends in drinking-driving fatalities in Canada from 1973 to 1990. Since 1973, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada (TIRF) has collected and maintained a database, containing the results of tests for the presence and amount of alcohol, conducted on fatally injured drivers in seven provinces. The paper obtained its data from the historical records for these provinces. It examines relevant trends, using a variety of indicators derived from the Fatality Database. These indicators included: (1) the number and percentage of drinking-driver and impaired driver fatalities; and (2) the ratio of drinking to non-drinking driver fatalities (the Problem Index). Since 1970, the number of motor vehicles used in Canada has almost doubled, while the population of Canada rose by 24%. The total number of casualty crashes in Canada has risen by 47%. During recent years, the number of traffic fatalities and alcohol consumption have both decreased. There have also been marked decreases in the number and percentage of fatally injured drinking drivers, and in the Problem Index. There have thus been dramatic and significant improvements to the drinking and driving situation in Canada. There are several reasons for this, including: (1) new legislation; (2) increased enforcement; (3) more community activity; (4) many new initiatives; and (5) more countermeasures. For the covering abstract see IRRD 866577.