Ms Velma Burns:

I will briefly explain our process for collecting data on 2013, 2014 and 2015 fatal collisions. Data collection on 2015's fatal collisions is ongoing and almost complete. We have an arrangement with the Health Research Board, which collects the data for us through the national drug-related death index, NDRDI, which Ms Murdock mentioned. We have a preliminary report for 2013 and 2014 based on approximately 70% of cases that were closed at the time of data collection. The results from the two studies are consistent with what we saw in our pre-crash study. They show that 31% of fatalities in 2013 and 2014 had alcohol in the toxicology. The only methodological difference with the pre-crash study is that we have only collected toxicology data on those road users who were killed. For example, if a driver was killed because the other driver involved in the collision had consumed alcohol but the second driver survived, that toxicology information is not included in the study. I am explaining this because the 31% figure is understating the problem slightly. Our evidence for 2013 and 2014 is consistent with the data from the previous five years and show that alcohol remains a significant problem in fatal collisions.

We consider ourselves to be up to date in terms of the type of study that we are undertaking. As Ms Murdock explained, it typically takes a year or two - sometimes even three or four, depending on the complexity of the collision - for the inquest to be held, the case to be closed and so on, so the file is not available to us immediately.