The evidence regarding the potential benefits of creating a 0.05% criminal law blood alcohol concentration limit for driving in Canada is reviewed. The proposed 0.05% offence would complement the existing Criminal Code for impaired driving offences. Research on the adverse effects of small amounts of alcohol on driving skills and abilities (vision, vigilance and drowsiness, psychomotor skills, information processing, divided attention skills) is described. Studies on the increased relative risks of fatal crashes among drivers with different blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) are discussed. The real world impact of lowering various administrative and criminal BAC limits in Canada and other countries are considered. The arguments raised in opposition of introducing a 0.05% Criminal Code BAC offence in Canada are examined. It was concluded that there was sufficient evidence to support a Criminal code BAC limit of 0.05% in Canada.
Abstract