TRENDS IN DRINKING DRIVER FATALITIES IN CANADA

Public and political concern and action focussed on the problem of dri nking and driving during the 1980s was unprecedented. This paper exami nes the impact of these collective efforts by analyzing trends in the magnitude of the alcohol crash problem in Canada as reflected by drink ing driver fatalities. After many years of little or no change in the magnitude of the drinking-driving problem, beginning in the early 1980 s, both the number and percent of drinking driver fatalities began to decline. This trend continued over the entire decade. Despite these ga ins, a significant problem remains, in particular drivers with very hi gh blood alcohol concentrations who appear to be relatively unaffected by countermeasures based on traditional measures such as deterrence a nd persuasion. New, innovative programs will be necessary to deal effe ctively with this ''hard core'' heavy drinking group.