January, 2000

Drinking and driving legislation marks three-year anniversary

Saskatchewan’s drinking and driving legislation marked its three-year anniversary in 1999. Since it was introduced Aug. 1, 1996, the legislation has contributed to some favourable changes, including fewer impaired driving convictions and a decline in the total number of alcohol-related collisions.

"Since the introduction of the legislation, we have seen evidence that it's had a positive effect on the safety of our roads and in reducing claims costs," says Kwei Quaye, SGI's Manager of Traffic Safety Program Evaluation.

Comparing Aug. 1, 1996 through July 31, 1999 to the three-year period before the legislation was introduced, SGI found impaired driving convictions have decreased by 15 per cent, with 15,586 convictions between 1996 and 1999 and 18,261 convictions between 1993 and 1996.

SGI also found when comparing the two time periods, there were 4,686 alcohol-related collisions between 1993 and 1996, as compared to 4,248 between 1996 and 1999 -- a 9.3 per cent decrease. During that same time period, non-alcohol-related collisions dropped 0.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, fatalities resulting from alcohol-related collisions have increased slightly in the three years since the legislation was introduced, according to SGI statistics. There were 142 fatalities between 1993 and 1996, and 144 fatalities from 1996 to 1999.

"Two years after the legislation was introduced, between 1996 and 1998, alcohol-related fatalities and injuries were steadily decreasing, but this year was a particularly bad year for fatalities resulting from impaired driving collisions," says Quaye.

"While the differences might appear marginal, any deaths resulting from drinking and driving are totally unacceptable, and we'll be working to bring those numbers down."

In addition to helping reduce the number of impaired driving convictions and the number of alcohol-related collisions, the legislation has also contributed to a decrease in the number of repeat offences for drinking, then driving.

When comparing statistics from August 1996 through July 1999 to the three-year period before the legislation was introduced, SGI found a 23 per cent decrease in the number of convictions for a second occurrence of impaired driving, and a 31 per cent decrease in the number of convictions for a third occurrence of impaired driving.

"So far these numbers look encouraging. However, they indicate that a significant number of people are still dying and getting injured as a result of drinking and driving. There's a lot more to be done in this area. We intend to keep working with enforcement agencies to reduce this problem."

For more information, contact:
Kwei Quaye
Manager, Traffic Safety Program Evaluation
SGI
Regina
Phone: (306) 775-6182

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