Background and epidemiology: Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol continues to be an important public health problem. In 2000 in Canada 3162 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions. Alcohol was a contributing factor in 33.8% of these deaths. Of the additional 18 402 drivers who were seriously injured 18.3% had been drinking. Younger people are at greater risk of death and injuries resulting from alcohol-related crashes than are older people. Of the fatally injured drivers aged 26–35 years in 2000, 28.0% had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit of 0.08%. With age, this proportion dropped to 5.9%. Although rates of involvement in alcohol-related crashes among new drivers (16 and 17 years old) are similar to those among drivers over 25, the younger drivers are 3 times as likely, per kilometer driven, to die. (Author/publisher)
Abstract