Ontario brokers urge young drivers to stay sober this summer, as impaired driving incidents increase

More than 90,000 impaired driving incidents were reported by police in 2011 in Canada, up by roughly 3,000 over the year prior, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario noted this week as part of an ongoing safety campaign aimed especially at young drivers. 

While the rate of serious incidents caused by impaired driving has decreased, the rate of impaired driving incidents has increased, the IBAO said, citing the recently released data from Statistics Canada. 

Impaired driving represented the highest proportion of adult offences being tried (12%) with 84% of impaired driving cases resolved with a guilty finding, according to the IBAO.

“Statistics Canada found that young people were found most prone to drive impaired,” Randy Carroll, IBAO’s CEO, noted. “This is why we are committed to our relationship with OSAID year after year to inform students on the grave dangers associated with impaired driving.”

IBAO has been working with Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) for more than a decade to inform Ontario drivers about the dangers of driving while under the influence. 

SAFE PROM! & GRADUATION MESSAGE FROM OSAID osaid.org/index.php/scho…

— OSAID(@OSAIDInc) May 22, 2013

IBAO is urging students to practice safe and sober driving. With the summer season nearing, students will be celebrating their end of school year with barbecues, parties and proms and IBAO said it would like to remind them of the simple measures they can take to avoid unnecessary tragedy.

“We want students to celebrate their accomplishments at the end of the school year, but we want them to celebrate responsibly,” Carroll said. “By following some simple alternative options, we can ensure our Ontario students remain safe this summer season.”