A new survey shows most Canadians believe the federal government should pass a law requiring passive impairment‑detection technology in all new vehicles, mirroring US legislation that will see anti‑impaired driving technology mandated in new cars by 2030.
More than 90% of Canadians agree impaired driving is a serious public safety issue, including nearly three-quarters (74%) who strongly agree, according to a new national survey, conducted by IPSOS for MADD Canada.
Fewer than half believe governments are doing enough to address the problem, the survey revealed, underscoring a gap between public concern and current policy action.
For Canadian auto insurers, the survey points to a likely tightening of the impaired‑driving regime over the medium term. Widespread public backing for built‑in impairment detection dovetails with growing adoption of telematics and advanced driver‑assistance systems, and could accelerate a shift in how impaired‑driving risk is managed.
MADD Canada National President Tanya Hansen Pratt said: “With the support of Canadians, MADD Canada will continue to encourage the Government of Canada to commit to this life saving technology. I can only imagine the difference this technology would have made in 1999 when my Mom, Beryl, was killed by an impaired driver. Victims and survivors of impaired driving want to see action from the Canadian Government.”
Calls to expand mandatory alcohol screening on roads and waterways
Meanwhile, 95% of respondents said they support expanding Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) to allow police to demand a breath test from any driver involved in a collision. Almost 90% agreed MAS should be extended to cover anyone operating a personal vessel or boat.
In addition, more than nine in 10 Canadians (93%) agree that drivers who cause death while impaired should be required to have ignition interlocks installed in their vehicles for life. Ignition interlocks prevent a vehicle from starting if a driver is impaired by alcohol and allow those individuals to drive legally and maintain insurance.
For auto insurers, long‑term interlock requirements can be a tool to manage high‑risk drivers while keeping them in the insured pool, rather than forcing them into the uninsured segment where social and financial costs can be higher and harder to manage.
Knowledge gaps around non‑criminal BAC limits – and a Quebec exception
The survey also highlighted gaps in public awareness of provincial and territorial administrative sanctions for lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels.
Only 36% of Canadians knew that all provinces and territories except Quebec have a non‑criminal threshold for impaired driving at 0.05% BAC (or 0.04% in Saskatchewan). In Quebec, a majority of residents (71%) said they support introducing a similar law.
MADD Canada has called on the Quebec government to introduce a provincial sanction for drivers at 0.05% BAC, a move backed by provincial coroners, law enforcement and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
Impaired driving’s continued toll and rising severity
The survey lands against a backdrop of stubbornly high collision severity. Transport Canada’s most recent data showed there were 1,964 road fatalities and 9,261 people seriously injured in 2023 – the highest fatality count in a decade, even as overall injury numbers have fallen compared to the early 2000s.
According to the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals, investigating officers reported that 22% of fatal collisions in 2023 involved a driver who was impaired or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, up from 20% in 2020. Data from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation indicate that 38% of fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs in 2021, compared with 30% in 2016.
“These survey results show that Canadians recognize the dangers of impaired driving and want governments to do more to prevent it,” said MADD Canada CEO Steve Sullivan. “The strong public support for enhanced laws and enforcement measures reinforces the need for action to reduce deaths and injuries caused by impaired driving.”
As public opinion clearly favors tougher action, insurers that actively support evidence‑based road‑safety measures may gain regulatory goodwill and brand advantage, but will also be expected to reflect any reduction in impaired‑driving claims in future rate filings.
