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  5. Alcohol Use By Drivers Fatally Injured in Motor Vehicle Collisions in Canada in 2008 and the Previous 21 Years

Alcohol Use By Drivers Fatally Injured in Motor Vehicle Collisions in Canada in 2008 and the Previous 21 Years

Fact Sheet TP 2436E
RS-2011-02
2011

Road Safety and Motor Vehicle
Regulation Directorate



Background

This leaflet provides information on the blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of drivers fatally injured in motor vehicle collisions in the Canadian provinces and territories. The information is derived from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) Fatality Database1, which consists of data collected from reports prepared by provincial/territorial coroners and medical examiners, and investigating police officers. Provincial and territorial agencies provide access to these data under cooperative agreements with TIRF.

The data in the TIRF Fatality Database was compiled every year from 1973 to 2008, inclusive, for seven provinces. Since 1987, data have been assembled from all provinces and the territories.

National data on alcohol use among drivers fatally injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2008 are reviewed in the next section. This is followed by an examination of trends in alcohol use among driver fatalities from 1987 to 2008. Before reviewing these sections, the reader should be aware that the following conventions have been adopted in assembling the data for this leaflet.

  1. The results are based on victims dying within twelve months of the crash. Most of these victims (82.3%) died less than six hours after the crash.
     
  2. The data presented in Figures 2 to 8 are based on the number of fatally injured drivers who were tested for alcohol.
     
  3. The data include only fatally injured drivers of the principal types of motorized vehicles on public roadways: automobiles, trucks/vans, motorcycles/mopeds and tractor-trailers. Excluded are operators of bicycles and other non-highway vehicles, as well as pedestrians and passengers.
     
  4. Comparisons are made throughout between "drivers who had been drinking" and "drivers who were legally impaired". The former includes any driver with a positive BAC (i.e., any amount of alcohol), and the latter includes any driver with a BAC in excess of 80 mg% (80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood), the legal limit as defined in the Criminal Code of Canada.
     
  5. Percentages for less populous jurisdictions are not as reliable as those for the larger ones (i.e., they are more subject to chance variation because there are fewer fatally injured drivers).

Alcohol Use among Fatally Injured Drivers in 2008

Rate of Testing for Alcohol – In order to make reliable statements about the prevalence of alcohol use by drivers killed in road crashes, a high proportion of these drivers must be tested for alcohol. In many countries, the rate of testing is very low, leading to the possibility of bias – i.e., drivers suspected of impairment may be more likely to be tested – which would lead to an overestimate of the prevalence of alcohol. It is generally accepted that conclusions about the prevalence of alcohol based on testing rates below 80% should be regarded with caution.

Fortunately, in Canada, the rate of testing has been uniformly high, so considerable confidence can be placed on the data reported here. To illustrate this, Figure 1 and Table 1 present information on the rate of testing for the presence of alcohol among fatally injured drivers in each Canadian jurisdiction in 2008. In that year, the rate of testing ranged from 76.3% in Quebec to 100% in Prince Edward Island, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Testing rates were 90% or more in nine jurisdictions and 80% or more in 11 jurisdictions. The average across all jurisdictions was 86.7% – 1,330 of 1,534 fatally injured drivers were tested for the presence of alcohol in their blood. This is comparable to a testing rate of 84.4% in the previous year and annual rates of over 80% tested for the past decade.

Drinking Drivers and Impaired Drivers – Figure 2 and Table 2 show the percentage of fatally injured drivers who had been drinking and the percentage who were legally impaired. In Canada, 38.7% of tested drivers had been drinking and 32.9% were legally impaired.

Gender – Of the 1,330 fatally injured drivers tested, 79.2% were male (figure and table not provided). Among males, 41.8% had been drinking, compared to 27.1% of the females. Males were also more likely than females to be legally impaired – 36% versus 21.3%.

Age – Figure 3 and Table 3 show that drivers under 21 years of age were the most likely to have been drinking (51.8%). Drivers aged 21-25 were the most likely to have illegal BACs (46.4%). The percentage of fatally injured drivers who had been drinking and the percentage who were legally impaired declined dramatically in the 56 and over age group.

Vehicles – As shown in Figure 4 and Table 4, fatally injured drivers of trucks/vans had the highest incidence of drinking (44.3%) among the major vehicle types. They were also the most likely to have illegal BACs (40.5%). Among drivers of principal highway vehicles, the lowest incidence of drinking and illegal BACs was found among fatally injured drivers of tractor trailers. Only four of these 34 drivers had consumed alcohol.

Trends over the Past 22 Years

Drinking Drivers and Impaired Drivers – Figures 5 to 8 (and Tables 5 to 8) present data for the 22-year period, 1987 to 2008. Figure 5 and Table 5 show a steady decline in the percentage of fatally injured drivers who had been drinking and the percentage who were legally impaired from 1987 to 1990. This was followed by an increase in 1991 and basically no change in 1992. From 1992 to 1999, there was a general decline in the percentage of both fatally injured drivers who had been drinking and those who were legally impaired. From 1999 to 2001, the percentage of fatally injured drinking drivers and those who were legally impaired increased. In 2002, the percentage of both fatally injured drinking and legally impaired drivers decreased, increased in 2003, decreased in 2004, then increased in 2007. And, in 2008, the percentage of fatally injured drinking drivers increased again – from 38.1% in 2007 to 38.7% in 2008, a 1.6% increase. The percentage of fatally injured drivers who were legally impaired increased from 30.7% in 2007 to 32.9% in 2008, a 2.2% increase.

Gender – Figure 6 and Table 6 show that over the 22-year period, the incidence of illegal BACs among fatally injured female drivers has been consistently lower than among males. The percentage of males who were legally impaired decreased between 1987 and 1990, increased in 1991, then generally decreased until 1999. From 1999 until 2001, the percentage of males who were legally impaired increased before decreasing in 2002, rising to 34.5% in 2003, decreasing to a low of 30.7% in 2004, rising to 34% in 2005, decreasing in 2007 to 32.4% and rising again to 36% in 2008. The trend for women differed slightly from that for men over this 22-year period, especially since 1994. During this period, the percentage of legally impaired females increased from 17% in 1994 to 23.4% in 1995, dropped to 15.4% in 1997, rose to 18.8% in 1998, decreased to a low of 13.2% in 1999, rose to 22.3% in 2003, decreased to 16.4% in 2004, rose to 23.6% in 2007, and decreased again to 21.3% in 2008.

Age – Figure 7 and Table 7 show that the overall downward trend in alcohol use by fatally injured drivers differs slightly across age groups. The largest decrease over the 22 years was among fatally injured drivers aged 46 and over – from 29.2% in 1987 to 21.4% in 2008, a 26.7% decrease. There were also substantial decreases in the percentage of impaired driver fatalities in the 26-35 and 36-45 age groups, from 54.9% to 40.4% and 45.8% to 40.7%, respectively. Among the other age groups, the percentage who were legally impaired has decreased over the 22-year period except for drivers under 21 years of age (an increase from 34.1% in 1987 to 39.6% in 2008). In 2008, fatally injured drivers aged 21-25 (46.4%) had the highest incidence of illegal BACs.

Vehicles – Figure 8 and Table 8 show that over the 22-year period, fatally injured drivers of trucks/vans (excluding tractor-trailers) had the highest percentage of illegal BACs, and, until recent years, the percentage of illegal BACs was very comparable for automobile drivers and motorcycle/moped drivers. In the last six years, fatally injured motorcycle/moped drivers had the lowest percentage of illegal BACs. The percentage of legally impaired motorcycle/moped drivers decreased between 1991 and 1995, rose in 1996, generally decreased until 2000, rose rather dramatically in 2001, decreased to 16.6% in 2004, rose to 20% in 2005, decreased to a low of 14.5% in 2006, and rose again to 25.4% in 2008. The percentage of truck/van operators who were legally impaired increased by 7.7% from 37.6% in 2007 to 40.5% in 2008. Among automobile drivers, the incidence of illegal BACs decreased from 1987 to 1990, increased in 1991, declined until 1997, rose in 1998, dropped in 1999, rose until 2001, decreased in 2002, rose in 2003, decreased to 26.5% in 2004, rose to 30.2% in 2005, decreased to 29.4% in 2006, and rose again to 31.8% in 2008. Tractor-trailer drivers are not included in Figure 8 and Table 8 because the small number of fatalities in this group results in unreliable year-to-year fluctuations. However, it is worthwhile noting that over this 22-year period, 1995 was the only year in which none of the fatally injured tractor-trailer drivers had consumed alcohol.

For further information contact:

Road Safety Programs
Road Safety & Motor Vehicle Regulation
Transport Canada
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N5

Tel.: (613) 998-1991
Fax: (613) 990-2912



Figure 1 - Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Tested for Alcohol: 2008
Figure 1 - Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Tested for Alcohol: 2008

Figure 2 - Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired: 2008
Figure 2 - Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired: 2008

Figure 3 - Age of Driver: Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired
Figure 3 - Age of Driver: Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired

Figure 4 - Type of Vehicle: Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired
Figure 4 - Type of Vehicle: Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired

Figure 5 - Trends in Alcohol Use Among Fatally Injured Drivers (Canada): 1987-2008
Figure 5 - Trends in Alcohol Use Among Fatally Injured Drivers (Canada): 1987-2008

Figure 6 - Trends in the Percentage of Male and Female Drivers Who Were Legally Impaired (Canada): 1987-2008
Figure 6 - Trends in the Percentage of Male and Female Drivers Who Were Legally Impaired (Canada): 1987-2008

Figure 7 - Trends in the Percentage of Fatally Injured Legally Impaired Drivers in Various Age Groups (Canada): 1987-2008
Figure 7 - Trends in the Percentage of Fatally Injured Legally Impaired Drivers in Various Age Groups (Canada): 1987-2008

Figure 8 - Trends in the Percentage of Fatally Injured Legally Impaired Drivers Operating Different Vehicles (Canada): 1987-2008
Figure 8 - Trends in the Percentage of Fatally Injured Legally Impaired Drivers Operating Different Vehicles (Canada): 1987-2008

 Table 1 - Number of Fatally Injured Drivers and Percentage Tested for Alcohol by Jurisdiction: 2008
Jurisdiction Number of Fatally Injured Drivers Percentage of Fatally Injured Drivers Tested
British Columbia 233 87.1
Alberta 275 96.7
Saskatchewan 96 91.7
Manitoba 47 95.7
Ontario 424 83.3
Quebec 321 76.3
New Brunswick 41 92.7
Nova Scotia 55 92.7
Prince Edward Island 12 100.0
Newfoundland and Labrador 23 95.7
Yukon 6 100.0
Northwest Territories 1 100.0
Nunavut 0 -
CANADA 1,534 86.7


 Table 2 - Number of Fatally Injured Drivers Tested and Percentage Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired by Jurisdiction: 2008
Jurisdiction Number of Drivers Tested Percentage of Drivers Tested
Had Been Drinking Legally Impaired
British Columbia 203 42.4 37.4
Alberta 266 39.1 33.5
Saskatchewan 88 55.7 50.0
Manitoba 45 62.2 44.4
Ontario 353 26.1 21.5
Quebec 245 40.4 35.1
New Brunswick 38 47.4 42.1
Nova Scotia 51 21.6 17.6
Prince Edward Island 12 66.7 66.7
Newfoundland and Labrador 22 72.7 45.5
Yukon 6 66.7 66.7
Northwest Territories 1 0.0 0.0
Nunavut* 0 - -
CANADA 1,330 38.7 32.9

* There were no fatally injured drivers in Nunavut in 2008.

 Table 3 - Age of Driver: Number of Fatally Injured Drivers Tested and Percentage Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired (Canada)
Age Number of Drivers Tested Percentage of Drivers Tested
Had Been Drinking Legally Impaired
< 21 164 51.8 39.6
21-25 168 51.2 46.4
26-35 225 47.1 40.4
36-45 199 47.2 40.7
46-55 243 35.8 32.1
56+ 331 17.2 13.6
TOTAL 1,330 38.7 32.9


 Table 4 - Type of Vehicle: Number of Fatally Injured Drivers Tested and Percentage Who Had Been Drinking and Were Legally Impaired (Canada)
Vehicle Type Number of Drivers Tested Percentage of Drivers Tested
Had Been Drinking Legally Impaired
Automobile 719 38.4 31.8
Truck/Van 400 44.3 40.5
Tactor-trailer 34 11.8 8.8
Moped/Motorcycle 173 33.5 25.4
Other Highway Vehicle 4 0.0 0.0
TOTAL 1,330 38.7 32.9


 Table 5 - Trends in Alcohol Use Among Fatally Injured Drivers (Canada): 1987-2008
Year Had Been Drinking Legally Impaired
1987 53.1 43.1
1988 50.6 40.3
1989 46.5 38.8
1990 45.4 36.6
1991 48.0 40.2
1992 48.1 40.1
1993 44.7 37.8
1994 43.9 36.6
1995 43.4 35.4
1996 41.6 34.9
1997 39.1 31.7
1998 39.1 32.8
1999 33.1 27.1
2000 35.6 29.3
2001 37.9 32.1
2002 35.0 29.1
2003 38.3 32.0
2004 34.7 27.9
2005 36.5 31.0
2006 37.1 30.2
2007 38.1 30.7
2008 38.7 32.9


 Table 6 - Trends in the Percentage of Male and Female Fatally Injured Legally Impaired Drivers (Canada): 1987-2008
Year Male Female
1987 47.5 21.2
1988 44.1 20.1
1989 44.0 18.8
1990 40.6 20.2
1991 44.3 23.0
1992 43.8 24.2
1993 43.0 19.3
1994 40.7 17.0
1995 38.3 23.4
1996 38.4 21.2
1997 35.8 15.4
1998 36.6 18.8
1999 30.9 13.2
2000 32.8 15.8
2001 36.3 16.0
2002 32.2 18.4
2003 34.5 22.3
2004 30.7 16.4
2005 34.0 19.9
2006 33.2 20.8
2007 32.4 23.6
2008 36.0 21.3


 Table 7 - Trends in the Percentage of Fatally Injured Legally Impaired Drivers in Various Age Groups (Cananda): 1987-2008
Age 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
< 21 34.1 36.6 32.0 31.9 34.4 33.8 30.0 32.3 33.6 33.8 31.2 32.4 21.6 28.0 29.7 29.1 30.3 31.8 32.3 34.0 36.2 39.6
21-25 50.6 49.4 49.7 40.1 50.6 46.3 46.9 48.6 46.5 47.6 48.0 41.7 34.8 37.8 42.6 36.2 42.3 36.4 43.1 38.8 41.2 46.4
26-35 54.9 55.9 49.7 48.7 48.5 52.8 48.3 48.8 47.7 42.6 41.6 45.8 41.6 40.0 46.9 37.8 42.9 37.8 40.9 45.4 36.9 40.4
36-45 45.8 39.1 41.5 41.9 45.0 45.4 44.3 41.9 43.4 43.9 37.8 40.1 33.5 36.9 38.9 37.8 38.5 36.4 36.1 32.0 34.0 40.7
46+ 29.2 20.5 22.1 22.5 26.8 24.1 23.7 18.9 16.9 20.5 16.4 17.6 15.8 16.1 19.5 19.0 20.0 14.4 19.6 17.0 18.7 21.4


 Table 8 - Trends in the Percentage of Fatally Injured Legally Impaired Drivers Operating Different Vehicles (Canada): 1987-2008
Vehicle Type 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Automobile 40.8 40.9 36.7 34.2 38.8 38.3 35.0 35.1 34.1 33.3 30.8 32.6 24.6 28.5 29.6 28.6 31.0 26.5 30.2 29.4 30.8 31.8
Van / Truck 52.1 43.5 47.8 45.9 46.8 49.1 48.2 40.8 42.7 41.0 37.7 38.5 36.2 36.3 38.9 33.7 40.8 38.3 39.0 40.0 37.6 40.5
Motorcycle / Moped 44.8 35.0 39.5 40.8 44.1 39.6 40.4 35.9 32.0 36.8 26.5 26.8 25.0 23.9 35.4 26.3 20.3 16.6 20.0 14.5 20.4 25.4


1 The TIRF Fatality Database is financially supported by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) and Transport Canada.



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Date modified:
2012-04-05