A recently released analysis of fatal collisions involving drug use in Canada points to a worrisome trend. The study found that the percentage of drug-related traffic fatalities increased from 2000 to 2023.

The report by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation examined national fatal-collision data and counted each live lost due to these accidents as “drug-related” if a driver involved in the collision tested positive for drugs including cannabis, illicit substances, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter drugs. The researchers indicated that the presence of these drugs may not be the cause of the collision, but with the improvements in drug-testing today, it does point to drug-use as partial accountability of the increase seen in the collisions.

The pattern revealed by the data deserves attention. From 2000 to 2023, the number of drug-related fatalities rose from 230 to 571, an increase of over 300 preventable deaths. There was also a nearly fourfold increase in the share of all traffic fatalities involving drugs, increasing from 10.7% in 2000 to 41.2% in 2023. Even common factors associated with traffic accidents such as speeding and distracted driving showed smaller increase.

The findings identified that drug-related collisions have outpaced alcohol, speeding, distraction or fatigue since 2013, with 41.2% of traffic fatalities involving drugs, compared with 29.3% involving alcohol, 31.1% involving speeding, 21.4% involving a distracted driver, and 6.2% fatigue.

Who is testing positive?

Between 2019-2023, an average of 53.7% of drivers who died in car crashes tested positive for drugs. Young adults had the highest percentage of fatally injured drivers who tested positive for drugs with 63.8% between the ages of 25-34, followed by 59.7% between the ages of 20-24, and 59.4% between the ages of 35-44. Young adults were also more likely to test positive for cannabis while older adults were more likely to test positive for central nervous system (CNS) depressants.

Patterns of time and seasonality:

The data also showed a pattern of seasonality and times of day that may not come as a surprise. Nearly half of the fatalities that occurred between 3:00am and 5:59am were drug-related. Accidents also varied by days of the week, reaching their highest point on Saturdays with approximately 44% fatalities being drug-related. A plausible explanation for this pattern is likely attributed to social activities with late commutes such as parties where substance use may be more common.

Seasonality also showed a large difference in drug-related fatalities with 41% occurring during the summer.

A pattern on occupancy of the car is also worth mentioning. The data showed that about 1 of every 2 people who died in single-occupant collisions were drug-related compared with about 1 in 5 for vehicles with 5 or more occupants.

Cannabis and driving: pre and post legalization in Canada

Before Canada legalized marijuana, an average of 22.4% fatally injured drivers tested positive for marijuana. Since legalization, the number reached a high of 30.4% in 2020 and has remained steady at approximately 25% since 2022. These changes were highest among 20–24-year-olds, increasing from 35.9% prior to legalization to 46.4% after legalization. Fatally injured drivers who tested positive for CNS stimulants also increased during this period from 13.9% to 19.6%.

This report highlights the need for focused messaging to remind people that legal does not mean safe and driving under the influence of any drug can be a dangerous task.

Driving is one of the biggest trust exercises we do as society and driving impaired puts everyone at risk.

Source: Brown, S., Vanlaar, W. G. M., & Robertson, R. D. (2026). Drug use in fatal collisions in Canada: 2000–2023 (Fact sheet). Traffic Injury Research Foundation. https://tirf.ca (ISBN: 978-1-77874-062-6)