How Bad Was Our Luck? The Hidden Numbers Behind Impaired Driving in Canada

Jun 8

Episode 07: June 8, 2026

Click to Watch the Episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts

When a loved one is killed by an impaired driver, people often call it "bad luck." But how likely is it, really? And how accurately does Canada track the true impact of impaired driving?

In this powerful episode of LIVID (Learning, Insights, and Voices on Impaired Driving), host Amanda Bickellexamines the statistics, data collection practices, and systemic shortcomings surrounding impaired driving in Canada following the death of her daughter, Abbey.

Drawing on her background in business, analytics, and performance measurement, Amanda asks a deceptively simple question: What are the odds of being killed by an impaired driver? What begins as a search for answers becomes a revealing investigation into how Canada measures—and often fails to measure—the country's leading criminal cause of death and injury.

This episode explores:

Why reliable impaired driving data is surprisingly difficult to find
How inconsistent reporting methods distort the national picture
The impact of Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) and roadside checkstop programs
What Edmonton's data reveals about the prevalence of impaired driving
The difference between impaired driving charges, convictions, and actual fatalities
Why many victims never "count" in official statistics
The challenges facing police, courts, coroners, and policymakers
The human cost of bureaucracy, delayed reporting, and inconsistent enforcement
Why measurement matters if Canada hopes to reduce impaired driving deaths

Amanda also shares insights gained from attending the MADD Canada Victim Services Conference, where families from across the country described their experiences navigating grief, justice, and a system that often leaves victims feeling invisible.

This episode challenges listeners to rethink the way impaired driving is discussed in Canada. Beyond the numbers lies a difficult truth: these deaths are not simply the result of bad luck. They are the consequence of choices—individual choices, community choices, and societal choices.

If Canada wants to reduce impaired driving, it must first be willing to measure it accurately.