Drug have overtaken alcohol as the leading factor in motor vehicle deaths in Canada, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has announced.
In 2023, the most recent data year available, road deaths involving at least one driver who tested positive for drugs – including cannabis, illicit drugs, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications – climbed to 571, up from 487 in 2019 and more than double the 230 deaths recorded in 2000.
Drug-related road deaths represented 41.2% of all road deaths in 2023, up from more than 35% in 2019 and 10.7% in 2000. Since 2013, a larger percentage of road deaths has involved drugs other than alcohol, distraction, or speeding. By comparison, less than one in three road deaths were alcohol-related in Canada in 2023.
“For decades, alcohol has been the primary focus of impaired driving strategies, but the data are telling us a new story that requires different solutions,” said Ward Vanlaar, TIRF COO.
“Drug impairment is no longer a minor concern on our roads; it is now the leading factor in fatal collisions. Greater investment in policing, tailored approaches to education, and enhanced awareness efforts are necessary to tackle this problem, which is different from the long-prioritized alcohol risk profile.”
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), with sponsorship from Desjardins Insurance, has released a new fact sheet: Drug Use in Fatal Collisions in Canada | 2000-2023 looking at key findings from the report.
