Fewer Canadians report driving when they thought they were over the legal limit: poll

Canadians may be changing their habits regarding driving after drinking, a new poll by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has found. The public opinion poll of 1,200 Canadians found a decrease in the number of Canadians who drove when they thought they were over the legal limit in 2008 and 2009, compared to those who admitted to the same behaviour in 2007. About 5.6% of Canadians admitted to driving when they thought they were over the legal limit in the past 12 months. This is a slight increase compared to 2008 (5.2%) but does confirm a considerable drop from 8.2% in 2007, TIRF found.”In the 2008 Road Safety Monitor on drinking and driving, it was suggested that the drop in 2008 may be partly due to the recent passage of Bill C-2 and the media attention the amendment had received,” explains TIRF research scientist Ward Vanlaar. “In light of this possible explanation, a small increase from 2008 to 2009 is not surprising given that the effect of legislation can dissipate over time after its introduction.” Bill C-2 contained a number of amendments, including provisions that give authorities more power to enforce driving-while-impaired offences.Conducted in September 2009, the poll can be considered accurate within plus or minus 2.9%, 19 times out of 20.