Make BC safer as we reduce impaired driving related deaths and injuries 35% by 2013.
In Oct of 2013 – our dear Alexa would have turned 10 years old. When that great day arrives, we want to share with Alexa and our province of BC what we think to be a fitting gift: A safer and better BC for all of us to respect, celebrate and enjoy.
By looking at that the most recently available official numbers, we now know that impaired driving is the leading cause of criminally caused deaths and serious injury BC.
Source: BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General + Stats Can
We also now know that others in Canada are showing us what is possible in terms of reducing the harm caused by impaired driving.
Sources: ICBC and MTO Orsar reports
BC is a great place to live – but we can do better.
So what does better look like? By examining the above data, we know that fatality rates and the related body count caused by impaired driving can be reduced significantly. If we were to use the Ontario experience and project their impaired driving fatality rates onto BC’s driving population during the 2000-2007 period, the number of lives saved would be both material and dramatic:
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
| Actual BC ID Fatalities |
107 | 130 | 122 | 124 | 139 | 156 | 145 | 171 |
| BC ID Fatalities using ON experience | 79 | 76 | 70 | 82 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 75 |
| # Lives Saved | 28 | 54 | 52 | 42 | 67 | 84 | 73 | 96 |
| % Lives Saved | 26% | 42% | 43% | 34% | 48% | 54% | 50% | 56% |
Change Starts Now by setting a SMART Goal
With Alexa’s 10th birthday gift as our inspiration, coupled to a solid understanding of the impaired driving harm data in our province – we can now articulate what positive change looks like in to British Columbians in our future:
By the end of 2013, British Columbians will enjoy and deliver some of the safest roads in Canada – as witnessed by a 35% reduction in deaths and injuries caused by Impaired Driving
By working together – through a coalition of interested government agencies, law enforcement and administration agencies, special interest groups and the public at large – we will reach our goal and deliver on our promise to Alexa and others who sadly share her story.
