TERMS OF REFERENCE
MEMBERSHIP:
TC - P. Boase (Chair)
ON - Y. Elzohairy
QC - E. Quirron
MADD Canada -
A. Murie/R. Solomon
CCMTA - V. Todd
RECORD OF DECISIONS REFERENCE:
Standing Committee on Road Safety Research and Policies, May/07
Board of Directors, May/07
REPORTING TO:
STRID 2010 Task Force
Standing Committee on Road Safety Research and Policies
BACKGROUND:
-
Despite the progress that was made between 1980 and the mid-90s, traffic crashes remain the largest cause of death among 15-24 year old Canadians, accounting for 31% of their deaths in 2003. Estimated, approximately 45% of these deaths are alcohol related.
Age by alcohol use for fatally injured drivers: 2004
Age |
Zero BAC |
1-49 |
50-80 |
81-160 |
> 160 |
16-19 |
63.8 |
5.2 |
4.3 |
16.4 |
10.3 |
20-25 |
55.6 |
3.6 |
2.8 |
15.2 |
22.8 |
26-35 |
53.7 |
6.9 |
1.6 |
12.2 |
25.6 |
36-45 |
58.8 |
4.0 |
0.8 |
8.8 |
27.6 |
46-55 |
72.7 |
3.9 |
2.0 |
4.9 |
16.6 |
55 + |
83.5 |
4.2 |
2.6 |
3.6 |
6.1 |
CURRENT STATUS OF ZERO BAC LIMITS IN CANADA:
Provincial & Territorial .00% BAC Limits and Graduated Licensing
Province /
Territory |
Minimum Driving Age |
Minimum
Length of
Stage 1 |
Minimum
Length of
Stage 2 |
Additional .00% BAC Limit |
Minimum Age at which .00% BAC Limit Ends |
Legal
Drinking
Age |
AB |
14 |
12 months |
24 months |
n/a |
17 |
18 |
BC |
16 |
12 months (9 with driver’s ed.) |
24 months |
n/a |
18 years & 9 months |
19 |
MB |
15.5* |
9 months |
15 months |
36 months |
20.5 |
18 |
NB |
16 |
12 months (4 with driver’s ed.) |
24 months minus no. of months in stage 1 |
n/a |
18 |
19 |
NL |
16 |
12 months (8 with driver’s ed.) |
12 months |
n/a |
17 years & 8 months |
19 |
NS |
16 |
6 months (3 with driver’s ed.) |
24 months |
n/a** |
18 years & 3 months |
19 |
NT |
15 |
12 months |
12 months |
n/a |
17 |
19 |
NU |
15 |
No GDL, full licence at 16 and no .00% BAC limit |
n/a |
15 |
19 |
ON |
16 |
12 months (8 with driver’s ed.) |
12 months |
n/a |
17 & 8 months |
19 |
PE |
15.5* |
No formal GDL, full licence at 16, (newly-licensed driver until 18) and no .00% BAC limit |
n/a |
15.5 |
19 |
PQ |
16 |
12 months (8 with driver’s ed.) |
24 months (or age 25) |
n/a |
18 years & 8 months |
18 |
SK |
15* |
9 months |
18 months (novice 1 plus novice 2) |
n/a |
17 years & 3 months |
19 |
YK |
15 |
6 months and not before age 16 |
18 months |
n/a |
17.5 |
19 |
* The minimum driving age for MB, PE and SK applies to any driver who has enrolled in or completed an approved driver’s education program.
** Proposed legislation will increase the .00% BAC limit to 5 years in NS.
-
Currently, all Canadian jurisdictions with a GDL now include a zero BAC restriction for novice drivers in the program. (Prince Edward Island and Nunavut do not have formal GDLs.)
-
A 1999 Canadian study reported that 18-19 year olds account for almost 74% of all alcohol-related crash deaths among teenage drivers.
-
It is dangerous to expose 18-20 year olds to their first experiences of unrestricted driving at the same time as their first legal use of alcohol.
MANDATE:
-
Prepare a background paper on the traffic safety benefits of adopting zero BAC limits for young and/or novice drivers.
-
Make recommendations that are consistent with the requirements of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
-
Provide recommendations that will give jurisdictions options on various methods of implementing zero BAC limits for young and/or novice drivers. The recommendations will explore the following issues:
- Should the zero BAC limit target just drivers under the age of 21?
- How should drivers from other countries immigrating to Canada be dealt with?
- Should the zero BAC limit be part of GDL or a separate restriction?
- How does drug impaired driving fit into this initiative?
DEADLINES:
Final report - May 2009
STATUS:
Ongoing
January 2009
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