Methodology of MADD Canada’s Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program Report

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) has released a new report and report card entitled, Rating the Provinces and Territories on Ignition Interlock Programs:  The 2008 Report Card. The following description of the steps taken in preparing the Report Card was taken from the document’s ‘Introduction’.

A number of steps were taken in preparing The 2008 Report Card.

• Based on a thorough review of the best available research from Canada and abroad, a document describing a model alcohol ignition interlock program was developed. This document, Elements of a Model Ignition Interlock Program, was completed in September 2007 and is available on MADD Canada’s website. (www.madd.ca)
• The Rating Scoresheet was then developed based on the model.  This scoresheet allows for a standardized approach to evaluating the current alcohol ignition interlock programs in each province and territory.
• The alcohol interlock legislation, regulations and administrative practices were reviewed in each jurisdiction. The jurisdictions were contacted directly and asked to respond to a number of questions. In addition, information on their alcohol ignition interlock programs was found on their websites. Upon completion of the research, a set of twelve draft Fact Sheets were developed summarizing the legislation.  A copy was sent to the jurisdictions for their review and comment. A written reply was prepared addressing all of the comments each jurisdiction raised.  Where appropriate, the draft Fact Sheets were revised.
• The final Fact Sheets were then sent to two leading experts in the field of alcohol ignition interlocks, Mr. Mark Ashbridge, Ph.D (Dalhousie University), and Mr. Paul Marques, Ph.D (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation), along with the Rating Scoresheet. These individuals were asked to score each of the twelve provinces and territories using the Rating Scoresheet and to provide comments.
• Upon completion of the Rating Scoresheets, areas of strength and need were identified for each of the twelve provinces and territories’ alcohol ignition interlock programs.

Based on the Fact Sheets, Rating Scoresheets and the reports of the independent raters, MADD Canada has prepared an individualized legislative reform agenda for each jurisdiction. The reform agendas are quite detailed and are not included in this document. Rather, the reform agendas are part of a longer jurisdiction-specific report that has been prepared for each province and territory. MADD Canada will be contacting government officials in each jurisdiction to arrange a meeting to discuss their individual provincial or territorial report and to offer support in implementing the proposed legislative agenda.

This report was prepared by Mr. Jeff Suggett, M. Sc., Manager of Special Projects with Synectics Transportation Consultants Inc., and Robert Solomon, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Western Ontario. Mr. Andrew Murie, MADD Canada’s CEO, and the Board of Directors reviewed the materials and approved the rankings and grades.

For more information and interviews, call:

Margaret Miller, MADD Canada National President @ (902) 758-5328
Andy Murie, MADD Canada CEO @ 1-800-665-6233, ext. 224
Robert Solomon, MADD Canada Legal Policy Director (Co-author) @ (519) 661-3603

Also see...

• MADD Canada calls for Mandatory Alcohol Ignition Interlock Programs
• Rating the Provinces and Territories on Ignition Interlock Programs:  The 2008 Report Card
• Executive Summary of MADD Canada’s Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program Report
• Elements of a Model Ignition Interlock Program