The upcoming holiday season brings anticipation of the celebrations to come, but concern about impaired driving can’t help but cross our minds. Despite years of efforts to raise awareness, it remains a top road risk routinely the focus of police enforcement campaigns. News stories from across the country remind us that this issue is still prevalent and continues to impact families and communities in profound ways.
Impaired driving remains a leading cause of road fatalities and injuries in Canada, and is especially concerning during this time of year when social gatherings are more frequent. As evidence of this, TIRF’s recently released fact sheet, Fatally Injured Off-road Vehicle Riders in Canada, 2000-2021 compared the percentage of fatally injured drivers of different vehicles that tested positive for alcohol. In 2021, 28.5% of fatally injured highway vehicle drivers were positive for alcohol, a decrease from 34.7% in 2020. On the other hand, 65.9% of snowmobile operators were positive, an increase from 62.0% in 2000, while 44.3% of ATV/dirt bike operators tested positive in 2021 compared to 40.0% in 2000.
Positively, the holiday season is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of planning ahead and making responsible choices. Data like this reinforces the need for a continued focus on both education and enforcement to reduce impaired driving incidents and keep our roads safe for everyone, whether they are travelling on public roads or off-road.
At TIRF, we are committed to supporting data-driven approaches to reduce impaired driving. Our collaborative efforts with law enforcement, government, and community organizations aim to address impaired driving on multiple fronts, from public education campaigns to initiatives that encourage alternative travel options. Supported by Diageo North America, TIRF’s Impaired Driving Coalition of Canada (IDCC) is hosting workshops in four provinces to help communities tackle impaired driving. Local practitioners and IDCC experts are sharing targeted strategies and providing participants with digital toolkits to address this issue. This initiative aims to support community prevention efforts.
As we enter this busy season, let’s all play a role in promoting safe choices to ensure that everyone can enjoy the holidays and arrive home safely.
Warmest regards,
Robyn Robertson
TIRF President & CEO
