10 Drunk Driving Statistics that Prove the Dangers of Driving Under the Influence

Drunk driving – or driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol – remains a significant safety concern in Ontario. Drunk driving accidents can result in serious trauma, such as brain injury, spinal cord injury and death.

10 Drunk Driving Statistics And Other Facts

Although the number of drunk driving accidents has dropped significantly in Canada since 1996, it is still a serious issue. Below are 10 drunk driving statistics and other facts and figures that illustrate why there’s no room for drinking and driving on Ontario’s roadways:

1. In 2021, 391 Canadians were killed in a road crash that involved a drunk driver.

2. Every hour in Canada, an average of 9 federal criminal charges and provincial short-term license suspensions are laid for alcohol or drug-impaired driving. This figure is relayed in MADD Canada’s report on provincial short-term alcohol and drug-related suspensions.

3. In the City of Toronto, a total of 788 reported collisions linked to impairment took place between 2018 and 2022.

4. Notably, 2019 saw the first rise in alcohol-related criminal charges in Canada since 2011, compared to 2017 and 2018. This uptick is likely linked to the implementation of mandatory alcohol screening (MAS) introduced in December 2018 by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

5. About 1.5 percent of accidents in Ontario involve alcohol. The OPP reported that citizens placed nearly 17,000 calls to the police service in 2023 to report suspected impaired drivers.

6. Drug-impaired driving is on the rise in comparison to drunk driving. Drug-related charges increased in 2020 and 2021 when compared to 2019.

7. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported impaired driving charges rose in 2023 to 11,142 instances. This was a nine per cent increase from 2022 and a 17 per cent increase since 2021. Rising figures may be in part due to the fact that restrictions related to COVID began to ease after 2021.

8. In May of 2023, the Ontario government introduced legislation that would result in a permanent loss of a licence if an incident resulting in death involved an impaired driver. This was in response to impaired driving charges making up six per cent of all roadway charges in the same year.

9. Driving with a blood alcohol concentration below the legal limit will still impact driving. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in most of Canada is 0.08 percent. Even less than this number, just 0.05 percent, can cause a driver to experience impaired judgment and reduced coordination. At 0.08 percent, a driver may have trouble controlling speed, be unable to process stimuli and suffer impaired perception.

10. As BAC rises, so does the risk of an accident. According to Transport Canada:

• a BAC of 0.05 to 0.08 percent increases accident risk up to four times;
• a BAC of 0.10 to 0.14 percent increases accident risk between six to seven times; and
• a BAC of 0.15 percent and higher increases accident risk up to 25 times.

Injured In An Impaired Driving Accident? Call Preszler Injury Lawyers Today

Have you been injured or lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident in Ontario? The lawyers at Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help those who have suffered serious injury because of someone else’s negligent or criminal acts. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your options for financial recovery. Call 1-800-JUSTICE®.