Prepared by:

Jeff Suggett, M. Sc, Manager of Special Projects
Synectics Transportation Consultants Inc.

MADD Canada (in partnership with Transport Canada) funded a study examining evidence of drivers driving while disqualified in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), a Crown corporation responsible for driver and vehicle licensing provided the author with a comprehensive data set that allowed trends in disqualifications to be examined.

The first objective of this paper was to determine the crash involvement of disqualified first-time Criminal Code (CCC) offenders in Saskatchewan (hereafter referred to as first offenders) during the period they were disqualified. The second purpose of this study was to examine evidence of first offenders driving during the period they were disqualified.

The data set provided to Synectics contained information regarding claims made as a result of a crash and whether or not they were considered to be at fault in the crash. First offenders were shown to have a higher risk of causing a crash than a typical Saskatchewan driver. The at fault crash rate of disqualified first offenders was estimated to be approximately one in one hundred. Evidence of driving was examined. The disqualified first offender was considered to be driving if they either were involved in a crash, reoffended, committed a traffic offence (under the Highway Traffic Act), or received an administrative suspension for drinking and driving.

Legislation that was introduced on August 1, 1996 was used as the basis for assessing changes in the yearly proportion of first offenders showing evidence of driving. As a result of this legislation, the disqualification period was extended to a full year and first offenders were required to participate in an addiction screening program.

First offenders with eligibility dates in the after period were more likely to show evidence of driving during their initial disqualification period. Groups that have a higher risk of driving while disqualified (showing evidence of driving during their disqualification period) were those who show no sign of participating in addiction screening; these first offenders were referred to addiction screening but never had a follow-up referral to the education or treatment component of the program. These individuals were 2.36 times as likely to show evidence of driving during their disqualification period.