The Road Safety Monitor (RSM) is a unique, annual public opinion poll that takes the pulse of the nation on key traffic safety issues and tracks changes in opinions, attitudes and behaviours of Canadians using an online survey of a random, representative sample of Canadian drivers. RSM results are strongly correlated with fatality data and can therefore be used as an early warning/surveillance system.

In 2023, a total of 5.8% of respondents admitted driving when they thought they were over the legal limit in the past 12 months. However, it should be noted while this percentage is smaller compared to previous years, this is among an estimated licensed driving population of 26 million drivers. This significant decrease from 10.5% in 2022 reverses a trend that began in 2016 which showed a steady increase in drivers who admitted to driving when they thought they were over the legal limit. Continued monitoring is essential to determine whether this decline will continue beyond 2023.

TIRF, with the ongoing support of sponsors, will continue to monitor trends and perceptions about drinking and driving in Canada in order to effectively inform drunk driving countermeasures.

Please see individual RSMs for sponsors.