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 riving statistics and other facts

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. Alcohol is a factor in three to four fatal car crashes each day in Canada. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada estimates that out of 2,541 fatal auto accidents in 2010, at least 1,082 deaths can be attributed to alcohol or other intoxicants. The organization believes this is a low estimate, given the issue of underreporting and other limitations on collecting accurate data.

2. Thousands suffer injury each year in alcohol-related crashes. In 2010, an estimated 63,821 people suffered injury in alcohol-related accidents, according to MADD Canada.

3. About one-fourth of all fatal car accidents in Toronto are alcohol related. An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Chief Superintendent said that drunk drivers cause nearly 25 percent of accident-related fatalities in the province.

4. Thousands of impaired drivers are charged each year in Toronto. In 2010 alone, the OPP handed out more than 9,500 citations for drunk driving.

5. About 2 percent of accidents in Ontario involve alcohol. The OPP reports that of 69,218 traffic crashes in 2010, about 2,000 involved alcohol.

6. Drunk driving accidents cost the country billions of dollars. MADD Canada reports that in 2010, drunk driving crashes (including those involving fatalities, injuries and/or property damage) cost the country $20.62 billion.

7. About 578 vehicles are damaged each day because of drunk driving accidents. MADD reports more than 210,000 vehicles are damaged each year in alcohol-related, property damage-only accidents.

8. Drunk driving is a major threat to Canada’s youth. MADD Canada reports that traffic accidents are the No. 1 cause of death for Canadians ages 15 to 24. About 45 percent of those crashes involve alcohol.

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.

Have you been injured or lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident in Ontario? The lawyers at the 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®.