Did You Know?

A recent survey of Canadian drivers found that 16 percent reported driving a vehicle within two hours of consuming alcohol in the past 30 days. In the past year, about 1.7 million Canadians (8 percent of drivers) drove when they thought they were impaired, for an estimated 8 million impaired driving trips. Fewer than three percent of drivers accounted for more than 80 percent of all impaired driving trips.
The Road Safety Monitor 2002: Drinking and Driving. Traffic Injury Research Foundation, December 2002

Customs officers seize about one gun a day from U.S. motorists entering Canada at southern Ontario border crossings. In 2001, officers seized 364 firearms at crossings in Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Windsor and Sarnia. Most of the individuals say they are carrying a gun for personal protection. However, police believe many of the guns are being smuggled to Toronto for sale to criminals and street gang members.
Toronto Sun, October 30, 2002

Of all Quebec drivers convicted of criminal offenses (such as those related to impaired driving), only two percent earn more than $50,000 a year. Forty-one percent earn less than $30,000 a year, and a full 43 percent have no income.
Editorial, The Gazette, Montreal, November 7, 2002

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the average cost per claim for private passenger automobiles went from $4,258 in 1997 to $5,970 in 2001 - an increase of 40% over five years. These figures do not take into account Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, which have government auto insurance.
Insurance Bureau of Canada, November, 2002

There were 3,145 injury deaths in Ontario in 1999/2000 - down14% from 1995/1996. Falls were the leading cause of fatal injuries and 85 percent of fall casualties were aged 65 over. Motor vehicle collisions came second. Of these, half were drivers and one-quarter were passengers. The remainder included motorcyclists, pedestrians and snowmobilers. Drugs and/or alcohol were involved in nearly one-quarter of all motor vehicle fatalities.
Canadian Institute for Health Information, December 4, 2002

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