According to Statistics Canada, “impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death in Canada.” Every year in this country more than 600 people are killed in drunk-driving incidents. By comparison, the number murdered most years is just over 500. The latter number includes murders with all types of weapons – knives, clubs, guns, fists and others.

The comparison isn’t entirely accurate. Of the 600 people killed in impaired driving crashes, more than 400 are typically the drunk drivers themselves. They can’t be classified as victims the same way people who are murdered can be.