Drug involvement accounted for a larger share of Canadian road deaths than alcohol in 2023, according to new data from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation.
TIRF’s analysis found that 571 road deaths in 2023 involved at least one driver who tested positive for drugs, up from 487 in 2019 and 230 in 2000.
Drug-related fatalities represented 41.2% of all road deaths in 2023, compared with 35% in 2019 and 10.7% in 2000. By comparison, alcohol was a factor in 29.3% of road deaths in 2023.
The findings come from TIRF’s National Fatality Database and are included in its latest fact sheet, Drug Use in Fatal Collisions in Canada | 2000-2023.
“Drug impairment is no longer a minor concern on our roads; it is now the leading factor in fatal collisions,” said Ward Vanlaar, TIRF COO.
The data show differences in the drivers affected by drug use compared with historical patterns associated with alcohol. Between 2019 and 2023, 54.1% of fatally injured male drivers and 52.2% of female drivers tested positive for drugs.
Drivers aged 25 to 34 had the highest rate of drug-positive results at 63.8%. That compares with 42.1% among drivers aged 16 to 19 and 43.8% among drivers aged 65 and older.
The analysis also found that 50.6% of drivers killed in drug-related collisions were the sole occupant of their vehicle, while 35.6% were in vehicles with two or more occupants. Drug-positive results were recorded in 41.7% of deaths occurring at night and 36.8% during daytime hours.
Cannabis was also more commonly detected among fatally injured drivers following legalization of recreational cannabis in October 2018. Prior to legalization, 22.4% of drivers who died tested positive for cannabis. Following legalization, that figure increased to 27%.
TIRF said the findings point to a need for impaired-driving prevention and enforcement strategies that account for the different characteristics associated with drug impairment.
“Cannabis does impair skills needed for safe driving and combining it with alcohol further amplifies risk,” said Steve Brown, TIRF research associate and data collection. “It is not safe to consume cannabis before driving.”
