Poll indicates slight decrease in drinking and driving in Canada

Research indicates a lower percentage of Canadians are driving after drinking but more work needs to be done, according to a recent report co-sponsored by Aviva Canada and published by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF).

TIRF’s Road Safety Monitor is an annual public opinion poll on drinking and driving. In this year’s poll, 3.6% of respondents admitted to driving in the last 12 months while they thought their alcohol level was more than the legal limit, down from 5.4% in 2011.

The percentage this year who drove after drinking any amount of alcohol was 17.3%, down from 19.2% the year before.

“In spite of these declines, researchers want to emphasize that further progress can be made,” TIRF stated in a press release. “The study found that the decline seen among the percentage of drivers who admitted to driving after drinking any alcohol in 2012 is still well above the low of 14.7% that was reported in 2005. This may suggest that a small number of drivers continue to be unaware of the risks that lower levels of alcohol can pose.”

The poll was conducted by phone and online with 903 Canadians in October. The results can be considered accurate within plus or minus 3.3%, 19 times out of 20.

In addition to Aviva Canada, the other sponsors of the poll were the Brewers Association of Canada and Toyota Canada Foundation.

TIRF, which was established in 1964, is a registered charity that aims to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries. It publishes reports and is involved in vehicle safety education.