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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. On average, how many Canadians are killed daily as a result of alcohol and/or drug-related crashes?

* On average, 4 Canadians are killed daily as a result of alcohol and/or drug related crashes.

2. How many Canadians are impacted by impaired driving annually?

* In 2004, police reported 79,000 impaired driving incidents.

3. On average, how many Canadians are injured daily as a result of alcohol and/or drug-related crashes?

* 207 people are injured daily as a result of alcohol and/or drug-related crashes.

4. What is the number one cause of criminal death in Canada?

* Impaired Driving.

5. What is the mission statement of the organization?

* To stop impaired driving and to support the victims of this violent crime.

6. Who typically joins MADD Toronto? Are members and volunteers normally victims?

*When the Chapter was first formed in 1990, most of the members were victims of impaired driving crashes. However, over the years, this has changed dramatically; now many Chapter members are concerned citizens who come from all backgrounds but who share the common goal to stop the senseless tragedies caused by people who drink and drive.

7. What is the legal limit in Canada? Does it vary from province to province?

* The legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Level) is set by the Federal Government so it is the same in all provinces and territories. The current level is .08% or 80mgs.

Penalties for impaired driving offences may vary from province to province.

8. Can you be charged with an impaired driving offence if your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) is below the legal limit?

* YES. If a person shows signs of impairment such as staggering or slurred speech they can still be charged with impaired driving even though they may be under the legal limit.

Impairment can be either by alcohol or drugs.

9. How many drinks can I have before I am legally impaired?

* There is no safe rule as everyone reacts differently to alcohol. Impairment starts with the first drink. Studies have shown that a person’s reaction times and motor skills can be affected at a BAC level as low as .04%.

10. What are the most effective ways to “sober up” after drinking?

* Time is the only thing that will sober you up. You have to allow the alcohol to be metabolized and that rate does not change.

There are some supposed remedies such as coffee, exercise, food, sucking on pennies; these are all myths, THEY DO NOT WORK.

11. What can I do if I see a car driving erratically and I think the driver may be impaired?

*Call 911 and report it to the police. Try to give the license number, make, model and colour of the car, exactly where the car is and which direction it is traveling in.

Do not follow the car; you may be putting yourself at risk.

12. What can I do to stop impaired driving in my community?

*Please view our new brochure “What Can I Do?” click here.

13. Does the Toronto Chapter of MADD have specific goals?

* The Chapter’s goals are to educate as many people as we can about the dangers of drinking and driving and to provide support to as many victims as we can. We try to be proactive in reducing the number of deaths and injuries through our education and awareness programs, with particular emphasis on our youth.

14. Is there an “at risk” area in Toronto for drinking and driving?

* Not specifically, but in any area where there is a concentration of pubs, clubs and restaurants there will most likely be hot spots.

15. Are you noticing a decline in drinking and driving?

* From 1994 - 2004, the numbers of people charged with impaired driving per 100,000 dropped by 33.5%.

Through the 1990s the numbers of deaths and injuries caused by impaired drivers dropped significantly but for the past three years the numbers have risen slightly.

16. Do you think students are becoming more aware of the dangers of drinking and driving?

* Students seem to be more aware these days due to the many educational programs there are but unfortunately motor vehicle collisions are still the number one cause of death for teenagers. 40% of teenage deaths are alcohol or drug related.

17. Are urban youth more inclined to drink and drive or are rural youth?

* One would anticipate that rural youth would drink and drive more than urban youth.

Youth who live in cities have many more modes of transport available to them than those who live in the country. Sadly when we hear about crashes on rural roads they seem to involve multiple deaths and injuries.

18. Do you think Ontario has harsh enough penalties for impaired drivers?

*There are serious penalties for impaired driving however there are some areas that still need improvement.

The police have received better powers to stop and apprehend drunk or drugged drivers. There are several issues that MADD Canada is hoping will be changed such as increasing 12 hour suspensions to 24 and recording these suspensions, and for drivers that accumulate three or more there should be license suspension, increased fines, remedial measures. For full details please refer to MADD Canada’s “Rating the Provinces” report.

18. What services do you provide to victims?

*Please view Victim Services here for information on MADD Toronto’s services for victims.

19. When did MADD Canada begin the “If You’re High, You Can’t Drive” campaign and what does this campaign entail?

*MADD Canada recognized that driving under the influence of drugs was becoming a serious issue on Canada’s roads so the National Board decided to expand its mandate to include driving under the influence of drugs as well as alcohol.

Our messaging most likely will say “driving impaired” as we know that you can be impaired either by alcohol or drugs or a mixture of both.

The “If You’re High” campaign is about three years old and was designed to reflect this trend.

20. There was a Bill to change the laws about the use of marijuana; is it now legal?

*The Federal Government’s Bill to decriminalize marijuana did not pass. Marijuana is still an illegal drug. The Bill never intended it to be legal; it was to change the offence for small amounts of possession to a lesser charge such as a fine rather than a criminal charge which would be much more severe.

21. What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is drinking 5 or more drinks at one time. Unfortunately this is a very dangerous practice. It can lead to serious consequences such as alcohol poisoning which in some cases sadly has led to the deaths of young people.

22. Is MADD Canada made up of just mothers?

MADD Canada first started with a group of mothers but nowadays there are fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and family members. Many of them are victims but many more of the volunteers are concerned citizens who want to contribute their time to stop the tragedies caused by impaired drivers.