Surge in cases in Canada in 2019
(Ottawa) Drug-impaired driving records boosted impaired driving statistics in Canada in 2019 compared to the previous year.
Statistics Canada reports that two years ago, the rate of police-reported impaired driving incidents was 19% higher than in 2018. Specifically, the rate of drug-impaired driving increased by 43% in this first year since cannabis was legalized.
The rate of alcohol-impaired driving still increased by 15%.
The federal agency recalls that in 2018, police forces were given new powers to conduct alcohol and drug testing, and new categories of criminal offences were created. This increased police capacity may have contributed to the increase in the rate of police-reported impaired driving in 2019, according to analysts.
In 2019, police services in Canada reported 85,673 impaired driving incidents, a rate of 228 per 100,000 population,
the highest in nearly a decade.
Statistics Canada found, however, that despite the surge in drug-impaired driving, it accounted for only 8% of all impaired driving records.
Among the provinces, Prince Edward Island had the highest rate of impaired driving: 645 incidents per 100,000 population, almost three times the national average.
Saskatchewan had a rate of 539 incidents per 100,000 population. Manitoba, with 310 cases per 100,000 population, Quebec (176 cases per 100,000 population) and Ontario (104 incidents per 100,000 population) had the lowest rates of impaired driving among the provinces.
However, Statistics Canada found an impaired driving incident rate of 3139 cases per 100,000 population in the Northwest Territories.
The agency also noted that 49% of drug-impaired driving was likely to lead to a charge compared to 57% for alcohol abuse cases.
The rate of alcohol-impaired driving still increased by 15%.
The federal agency recalls that in 2018, police forces were given new powers to conduct alcohol and drug testing, and new categories of criminal offences were created. This increased police capacity may have contributed to the increase in the rate of police-reported impaired driving in 2019, according to analysts.
In 2019, police services in Canada reported 85,673 impaired driving incidents, a rate of 228 per 100,000 population,
the highest in nearly a decade.
Statistics Canada found, however, that despite the surge in drug-impaired driving, it accounted for only 8% of all impaired driving records.
Among the provinces, Prince Edward Island had the highest rate of impaired driving: 645 incidents per 100,000 population, almost three times the national average.
Saskatchewan had a rate of 539 incidents per 100,000 population. Manitoba, with 310 cases per 100,000 population, Quebec (176 cases per 100,000 population) and Ontario (104 incidents per 100,000 population) had the lowest rates of impaired driving among the provinces.
However, Statistics Canada found an impaired driving incident rate of 3139 cases per 100,000 population in the Northwest Territories.
The agency also noted that 49% of drug-impaired driving was likely to lead to a charge compared to 57% for alcohol abuse cases.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
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