Impaired Driving - Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research

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Designated Drivers While evidence shows that there is an increase in the use of designated drivers, there is limited effectiveness of this intervention as it is limited to social groups (i.e. lone drinkers are excluded), it requires the group to establish a plan prior to the event and it requires the designated driver not to drink rather than simply drink less than the group (Babor T., Caetano R., Casswell S., Edwards G., Giesbrecht N., Graham K., Grube J., Hill L., Holder H., Homel R., Livingston M., Osterberg E., Rehm J., Room R., & Rossow I., 2010). A qualitative study on designated drivers focusing on young Alberta drivers aged 18 – 29 years (n=146) highlighted a number of distractions including in-car pranks, disorderly behaviour and in-car vomiting that put young designated drivers and their passengers at risk. Furthermore, data indicated that designated drivers selected during or after the drinking event were impaired themselves. Authors suggest that educational/promotional efforts should focus on the role and responsibilities of designated drivers and their passengers as well as on the prevention and management of in-car problems (Rothe P. & Carroll L., 2009). Ride Service Programs Evaluations of well established programs providing free transportation for intoxicated persons showed no impact on annual crash rates as ride service programs are used by a relatively small number of drivers. Persons using ride service programs, however, tend to be young, male, heavier drinkers and are more likely to report having driven while impaired which indicates that this intervention, at least, reaches the appropriate target population. Furthermore, ride services programs may also increase awareness of the risks of impaired driving (Babor T. et al., 2010; Transportation Research Board, 2005). A provincial study designed to identify locally relevant and strategic recommendations for addressing local action on drinking and driving issues showed that Albertans recommended that communities increase access to and affordability of alternative transportation (including taxi and bus) for impaired people (Rothe P., 2008). Surety of Detection Increasing the public’s perception around the possibility of “getting caught” through highly profiled and frequent check stops throughout the year reduces impaired driving-related fatalities and injuries. Furthermore, random breath testing (RBT) is significantly more effective than sobriety check stops. With RBT, drivers undergo roadside testing randomly even if they do not present any evidence of impairment; whereas, with sobriety check stops only drivers showing evidence of impairment or admitting to alcohol consumption can be tested. RBT has a larger impact because legally impaired drivers tolerant to alcohol and denying alcohol consumption (such as hard core drinking drivers) may not exhibit behaviours warranting breath testing and, therefore, will get away and avoid punishment (Babor T. et al., 2010; Transportation Research Board, 2005). In Canada, only drivers showing evidence of possible impairment or admitting to alcohol consumption can be subjected to roadside screening device testing (Department of Justice Canada, 2009; Province of Alberta Traffic Safety Act, 2012). An alternative to RBT is to use passive BAC sensors which measure BAC while the driver is simply responding to officers’ questions. Using a passive BAC sensor gives law enforcement a more accurate, objective method to identify drivers who should undergo breathalyser testing (Transportation Research Board, 2005). An in-depth look at issues in injury. Rothe’s (2008) participatory study, A Blueprint for Community-Based Drinking and Driving Interventions: A Participatory Study showed that Albertans recommended that police run more check stops and increase their monitoring of rural back roads and drinking facilities. Campaigns in Alberta such as Curb the Danger and Report Impaired Drivers (RID) have been implemented to increase surveillance by encouraging citizens to call 911 and report suspected impaired drivers to police. Since 2006, Curb the Danger has taken over 52,000 calls from the public which has resulted in 5,026 impaired drivers being removed from Edmonton streets. In addition, 1,592 24-hour and 72 24-hour suspensions were invoked and 8,568 letters were sent to registered owners that police were unable to intercept (Edmonton Police Service, 2012). It is not known what overall impact this campaign has had on impaired driving in Alberta. 2
Swiftness of Punishment Enforcement of the swift punishment, administrative licence suspensions may be a challenge in that many suspended drivers continue to drive. Nonetheless, research shows that administrative licence suspensions are associated with reductions in alcohol-related crashes (Babor T. et al., 2010). In Alberta, if a police officer has reasonable grounds (physical signs, driving pattern, or statements) to suspect that a driver has consumed alcohol, the officer may ask the driver to provide a breath sample for a roadside screening device. If the driver refuses to provide a breath sample, they will be charged under the Criminal Code as refusing to provide a sample is a criminal offence. Albertans with a BAC of 0.05 per cent or more or who have refused to participate in testing are subject to terms of the Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension (AALS). With AALS, the offender is issued an immediate licence suspension and vehicle seizure (paying for towing and impound charges) and must participate in a remedial program. Albertans with a BAC of 0.08 per cent or more or who have refused to participate in testing are also charged by federal courts where the minimum penalty for impaired driving is $600 and a one year driving prohibition. The timeline of AALS is faster than punishment issued by federal courts (Alberta Transportation, 2012; Department of Justice Canada, 2009). Lower BAC Limits While there is a wide variation in the effects of alcohol from one individual to another, the evidence shows that driving performance begins to deteriorate significantly at 0.05 per cent BAC. Positive results in other countries indicate that lowering the BAC limit from 0.08 per cent to 0.05 per cent can be beneficial to traffic safety (Fell JC & Vaos RB, 2006). There have always been penalties for persons operating vehicles between a 0.05 to 0.08 per cent BAC in Alberta. However, the Government of Alberta recently increased the severity of penalties within the Alberta Immediate Roadside Suspension and the Alberta Administrative License Suspension (Alberta Transportation, 2012). Refer to the section, Swiftness of Punishment for penalties. Graduated Drivers Licence (GDL) Research indicates that restrictions directed at new drivers such as lower BAC limits (0.00 per cent to 0.02 per cent), increased minimum ages for drivers’ licences, and night-time driving restrictions can reduce the incidence of drinking and driving among youth (Babor TF et al., 2003). The Alberta Zero Alcohol Tolerance law states that new drivers of any age having a Learner Stage and Probationary Stage license must maintain a zero blood alcohol level while driving. GDL program drivers found with any alcohol in their blood will face an immediate 30-day license suspension, a seven-day vehicle seizure and costs for towing impound fees (Alberta Transportation, 2012). Regarding night-time driving restrictions, Alberta drivers having a Learner Stage license, where they must be accompanied by a fully licensed adult, are restricted from driving between midnight and 5 AM; however, there are no time restrictions at the Probationary Stage where youth are driving without adult supervision (Alberta Transportation, 2010). An in-depth look at issues in injury. Remedial Programs Evidence shows that well-designed educational and therapeutic remedial programs can positively influence recidivism and collisions associated with impaired driving. It is recommended that participation in such programs should be a condition of license reinstatement for all persons convicted of an impaired driving offence. Remedial interventions should include education regarding alcohol and traffic safety, an examination of one’s substance use and driving behaviour and strategies to avoid driving while impaired (Health Canada, 2004). Treatment programs should contain quality assessments to determine the type of treatment needed and to measure treatment impact on offenders. For example, gender-sensitive treatment programs have been shown to be much more effective for women than gender-neutral programs (The Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 2009). In Alberta, drivers issued an Administrative Licence Suspension must participate in remedial courses administered and delivered by the Alberta Motor Association. First time offenders participate in the one-day course, Planning Ahead. Repeat offenders participate in the weekend live-in alcohol and/or drug use assessment and pre-treatment course, IMPACT (Alberta Motor Association, 2009; Alberta Transportation, 2012). 3
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Impaired Driving - Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research

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