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Back on Track, Ontario's remedial measures program, shows success in
reducing impaired driving
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, (ONTARIO) ø December 18, 2001 -- Of the 12,000 people
who have attended Back
on Track, OntarioÕs Remedial Measures Program, since April
1999, only one has returned to the program due to a subsequent conviction,
according
to a preliminary survey of the participants of the program managed by
the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) on behalf of the
Ministry
of Health.
"When
the program first began, it was thought that people would resent the program
due to its mandatory nature, but in actuality, our surveys have shown
that the majority of people (86%) who have completed the program indicate
that they find the program very helpful, the information provided useful
and the program facilitators excellent," Rania Shuggi, Program Manager,
Remedial Measures Program, said. She cautions that there may be more people
who have reoffended who have not yet registered with the program, but
says the preliminary figures are very encouraging.
Under
the Highway Traffic Act, any person convicted of a drinking and
driving offence in Ontario will automatically have his or her driver's
licence suspended. For offences that take place on or after September
30, 1998, the Act requires convicted impaired drivers to successfully
complete the Back on Track program before their licence can be
reinstated. All participants take part in a one-hour initial assessment
and based on the assessment, will be assigned to either an education or
a treatment program. The program includes a six-month follow-up interview
after the completion of the education or treatment program before a driverÕs
licence can be reinstated by the Ministry of Transportation.
While
the Centre is currently conducting a comprehensive five-year evaluation
of Back on Track, the preliminary low recidivism rate is in keeping
with the research into remedial programs in other areas. The research
indicates that the remedial measures programs are successful in reducing
recidivism, i.e., the number of convictions for impaired driving, particularly
when they are combined with licensing sanctions. Other research conducted
by the Centre indicated that a remedial program reduced premature mortality
by 30% among offenders who were assigned to the program.
Dr.
Robert Mann, Senior Scientist at CAMH who has been conducting research
into drinking and driving related injuries and deaths for the past 18
years, said, "Remedial programs are an important part of a comprehensive
effort aimed at reducing drinking related driving deaths and injuries.
"
"Broader
social factors that influence drunk driving, including alcohol availability
and legal limits also need to be addressed. Our research strongly supports
the lowering of legal limits by the federal government proposed by Mothers
Against Drunk Driving and the Canadian Medical Association earlier this
month," Mann said.
Mann
and his colleagues conducted an international review of the research on
experiences in other countries, which indicated that lowering the legal
limit in Canada would reduce total traffic deaths by somewhere between
6% and 18%. Based on the number of traffic fatalities in 1996 this would
prevent somewhere between 185 and 555 fatalities every year. This figure
has received additional support in a recently published study by the Centers
for Disease Control in Atlanta, which found that reducing the legal limit
to 80 mg% in American states resulted in an average 7% reduction in alcohol-related
motor vehicle fatalities.
"Impaired
driving is the greatest single criminal cause of death and injury in Canada.
It is critical that we continue to take action on this issue, and that
our efforts be supported by research", said Mann.
The
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a World Health Organization Centre
of Excellence and a teaching hospital fully affiliated with
the University of Toronto, was established in 1998 through the merger
of the Addiction Research Foundation, the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry,
the Donwood Institute and the Queen Street Mental Health Centre. To register
for the program, please visit www2.camh.net/wwwremedialnet/
or call 1-888-814-5831.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:- Anne Ptasznik
Media Relations Coordinator
(416) 595-6015
Anne_Ptasznik@camh.net
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1-800-463-6273
