TIRF-Prepared Report: The Alcohol Crash Problem in Canada

Each year, sponsored by Transport Canada and Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), TIRF captures detailed information on persons fatally injured in motor vehicle crashes on or off public highways in Canada. This includes data on the presence and quantity of alcohol detected by chemical tests on blood, urine or other body fluids. This information is added to the TIRF fatality database, which is historically intact to 1973. The database has proven to be a useful source of descriptive information on the magnitude and characteristics of the alcohol-(fatal) crash problem, a means for monitoring changes/trends in the problem, as well as a valuable tool for research on alcohol-impaired driving.

This report describes the magnitude and characteristics of the alcohol-crash problem in Canada during 2008 as well as trends in the problem. It includes data on alcohol in fatally injured drivers and pedestrians derived from the Fatality Database. For the past two and a half decades, the Fatality Database, developed and maintained by TIRF, has provided objective data on alcohol use among persons fatally injured in motor vehicle crashes. Each year, TIRF compiles information from coroner and medical examiners files on the results of toxicological tests for alcohol in the blood of fatally injured drivers (and pedestrians). Given a high testing rate in all jurisdictions, particularly among fatally injured drivers, the Fatality Database has proven a valid and reliable source of descriptive data on the magnitude and characteristics of the alcoholfatal crash problem, a means for monitoring changes/trends in the problem as well as a valuable tool for research on alcohol-impaired driving. The Fatality Database is co-funded by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) and Transport Canada.

Read the report (PDF)

About TIRF

Established in 1964, TIRF's mission is to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries. As a national, independent, charitable road safety institute, TIRF designs, promotes, and implements effective programs and policies, based on sound research. TIRF is a registered charity and depends on grants, contracts, and donations to provide services for the public. For more information, visit www.tirf.ca.