Abstract
Alcohol impairment has long been recognised as a major contributory element in the occurrence of fatal motor vehicle collisions. Consequently, a wide array of programmes have been introduced in an attempt to reduce the magnitude of the problem. In an effort to monitor the overall effectiveness of societal efforts in this area, the traffic injury research foundation of canada has developed a national data base on fatal traffic crashes in seven canadian provinces. This study reports on alcohol involvement in fatal traffic crashes from 1973 to 1978, with special reference to 1977 and 1978, the most recent years for which such information is available.