Areas of Research

Evaluation of traffic safety interventions in British Columbia (funded by CIHR, completed). This project evaluated the amended 2010 BC Motor Vehicle Act on alcohol impaired driving and speeding. We found a 52% reduction in alcohol related fatal crashes.
Evaluation of Speed Limit Changes in British Columbia (funded by CIHR). Preliminary results indicated that a large increase in injurious crashes on highways with increased speed limits.
Evaluation of the Effect of Cannabis Legalization on Road Safety (funded by CIHR). This project compared the prevalence of cannabis use among injured drivers before versus after cannabis legalization in Canada.

Cannabis and Motor Vehicle Crashes: a Multicentre Culpability Study (funded by CIHR). This study uses a culpability analysis approach to investigate the risk of crashing associated with cannabis by studying the association of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels in injured drivers with the likelihood of having caused the crash.
Medication Use and Motor Vehicle Crashes (funded by CIHR). The primary objectives of this study are to describe the medications used by drivers in British Columbia, to identify medications that are associated with crashes, and to estimate the crash risk.
Demographics of Drug Impaired Driving in Canada (funded by Health Canada and various local provincial governments). This study investigates the prevalence of drugs detected among injured drivers in different provinces.
Systematic review on blood THC levels and impairments among chronic cannabis users.

Non Motor Vehicle Related Pedestrian and Cyclist Injuries – A Chart Review Study. Most non motor vehicle related pedestrian and cyclist injuries are not captured in police report or health database. This project describes the occurrence of non-motor vehicle related pedestrian and cyclist injures through emergency department medical records review.
Systematic review on pedestrian and cyclist injury profiles

Predictors of Poor Health and Functional Recovery Following Road Trauma: A Emergency Department Inception Cohort Study (funded by CIHR). This project will study health related quality-of-life outcome in road traffic injury survivors and identify factors associated with a poor outcome, if any. Costs of healthcare and productivity loss will be examined as well.

Syncope and Subsequent Motor Vehicle Crashes (funded by CIHR PI: John Staples)
Reporting Unfit Drivers: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of BC Physicians . We surveyed BC physicians for their opinion on reporting medically unfit drivers. Currently we are creating an information sheet for physicians regarding reporting medically unfit drivers.
Driving Ability and Transportation Needs of Elderly Drivers – A Perspective From Emergency Department Elderly Patients. The aims of this study are to determine the proportion of elderly drivers deemed medically unfit to drive, and to examine their awareness of driving fitness and their attitudes towards alternative forms of transportation.

Association between leisure activities and risky driving behaviour in young Canadians (Master thesis).