It seems that the ongoing pandemic and lockdowns did not have much effect on the number of alcohol-related road accidents in Canada in 2021 and so the campaign against drunk driving or impaired driving is just as serious as ever. Today, we bring you part 3 and the last installment of the Drinking and Driving Statistics in Canada for 2021 That You Should Be Concerned About.
2019 Drinking and Driving Statistics Show That 5.3 Out of 100,000 Canadians Died in a Car Crash
This number may sound alarming, but this is also significantly lower compared to other countries, showing that a heavily enforced system on drunk driving is working well. Note that this could be partly because Canada has been investing in better infrastructure aside from better teaching and cultural awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.
Men Face a Higher Possibility of Dying in Car Crashes Than Women
Although statistics show that 5.3 Canadians out of every 100,000 dies from road deaths, the numbers are not the same for men and women. Women comprise about 3.4 every 100,000 while it is at 7.3 for men. This could be because there are more male drivers overall compared to women.
Canadian Statistics Show That the Number of People Who Were Driving Under the Influence Fell from 11% to 8% Between 2007 and 2019
Note that these numbers are from Public Safety Canada and include incidences of self-reporting estimated at around 5%. It is fair to say that some of those who were drunk driving were responsible drivers, albeit only a small number.
About 26% of the Participants for the 2019 Drunk Driving Statistics Admit to Having Cannabis 2 Hours Prior to Driving
This number could be largely influenced by recent cannabis legalization which might explain why the rates vary by province as well. Statistics show that 30% are from Alberta, 32% are from British Columbia, and 34.6% are from Saskatchewan.
A Third of All Impaired Driving Fatalities Are 16 to 25 Years Old
There is still a lot of education that needs to be done to control teenage drunk driving in Canada. Although there are plenty of programs geared to educate and rehabilitate young drivers, the numbers show that these measures may not be enough especially when it comes to combination drug and alcohol use. Perhaps a more inclusive approach that also teaches about other psychoactive substances may work better in the future.
Severe Road Accidents Typically Involve Repeat Offenders
Repeat offenders usually mean that the persons involved may have some sort of dependency issue going on. They are the population that can relapse and may not get care as much when faced with penalties. This is the reason why rehabilitation is part of the program for those who have been drunk driving more than once. The government hopes that by addressing substance use at the root cause, there would be fewer incidences of driving under the influence in the future.
With everything that we shared in this series on drunk driving in Canada, it is clear that impaired driving is a social safety issue that will take a lot of collective effort to control. It also shows that not everyone charged with drunk driving is guilty of wanting to harm other people knowingly. If you have been involved in a drinking and driving case in Canada and need the help of a Impaired Driving lawyer in Toronto, contact Calvin Barry.