MADD Canada Releases

November 22, 2005

Canadians overwhelmingly support lower drinking limits for drivers

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) released findings of a SES National Survey today showing overwhelming support for reducing the amount one can drink alcohol and then legally drive. According to the recent SES findings, more than seven of ten Canadians believe that the drinking limits allowed by our impaired driving laws should be reduced. When allowable drinking levels at a proposed 0.05% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) legal limit were explained, 84% of Canadians felt this level was 'about right' or should be even lower.

This is no surprise to Andrew Murie, MADD Canada's Chief Executive Officer. He explains, "When people realize just how much a person can drink and then legally drive in this country, they soon come to the conclusion that legal limits must be reduced. Most people at a 0.10 % BAC level of intoxication are 'fall-down drunk'. Sadly, that's the level we currently allow on our roads, once you factor in the margin of error accepted by Canadian courts."

Mr. Murie says, "A lower drinking limit will reduce impaired driving crashes, and the tragedies that result from those needless crashes. This is all about reasonable limits that appropriately reflect the risk to motorists of getting into a crash with an impaired driver. There is overwhelming empirical evidence and international experience that tells us that that reasonable limit is 0.05% BAC."

"The Canadian public gets it and, so now, it is time for our politicians to catch on and do something about it," adds Mr. Murie.

The intensity of support for MADD Canada's initiative is 'quite striking' according to Nikita Nanos, President of SES Research. Mr. Nanos comments, "With more than one of two Canadians strongly supporting the reduction of the legal limit, moving forward should be a clear green light."

The first of two SES survey questions read:  With current Canadian law, a 200 lb man can consume more than 6 drinks in 2 hours, on an empty stomach, and drive without being criminally charged with impaired driving (a 140 lb woman can drink more than 3 drinks, in 2 hours, on an empty stomach, and then drive without being charged). There is a current movement to change the laws so that people will not be able to drink as much and legally drive. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose the effort to reduce the amount of alcohol a person can consume and then drive without being criminally charged?

Canadians responded:  55.6 % strongly support; 16.9 % somewhat support; 5.2 % somewhat oppose; 8.7 % strongly oppose; 9.0 % neither support nor oppose; and, 4.6 % were unsure.

The second of two SES survey questions read:  MADD Canada is suggesting that the legal limit for a criminal charge of impaired driving be reduced, or in other words that people will not be able to drink as much as they can today and then drive. For example, for a 200 lb man, the limit would be reduced from 6 drinks in 2 hours, to about 4 drinks in 2 hours. (for a 140 lb woman, the limit would be reduced from more than 3 drinks in 2 hours, to 2 drinks in 2 hours). Do you think MADD Canada's suggested limit of 4 drinks in 2 hours is about right? Or do you feel it should be more? Or less?

Canadians responded:  32.0 % about right; 7.9 % more (allowed to drink more); 51.6 % less (allowed to drink less); and 8.5% were unsure.

The SES results is based on a random telephone sample of 1,003 Canadians, 18 years of age and older. The survey was conducted between November 10th and 13th, 2005. The margin of accuracy for the aggregate survey results is 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

For more information, visit www.madd.ca or call:

Andrew Murie, MADD Canada
1-800-665-6233, ext. 224    

Nikita Nanos, SES Research
(613) 234-4666

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