Nearly a third of road deaths involve alcohol or drugs, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) warns as Impaired Driving Week begins.
SAAQ is taking the opportunity to reiterate that impaired driving remains a major concern for road safety in Quebec.
“During this Quebec Impaired Driving Prevention Week, I would like to remind you that every citizen has an essential role to play,” said Serge Lamontagne, President and CEO of the SAAQ. “Together, we can beat the statistics and help reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. If you consume, do not drive. If you see that one of your loved ones is about to get behind the wheel after drinking, intervene. There are no excuses, only lives to be preserved.”
Officials warn that impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of collisions on Quebec roads. Each year, on average, 28 per cent of road fatalities are related to drinking and driving. This represents about 100 people killed annually, in addition to 190 others who are seriously injured.
The SAAQ says that alcohol is not the only substance that causes accidents; during the same period, 43 per cent of tested drivers were found with drugs or medications. Cannabis was the most common drug detected, found in 22 per cent of drivers killed who were tested.
According to a survey conducted by the SAAQ in 2023, 43 per cent of respondents reported driving a vehicle in the past 12 months after drinking at least once in the four hours before leaving. About 5 per cent of respondents reported driving after taking cannabis in the four hours before leaving.
Penalties for driving while impaired are severe and can lead to jail time, a criminal record, fines, and driving bans.
The SAAQ reminds individuals that there are numerous alternatives to getting behind the wheel while intoxicated, such as:
