CCMTA study shows decline in national crash rate

OTTAWA, (April 14, 2004) — Transport Canada has just released data from its 2002 Annual Report for Road Safety Vision 2010 that shows truck-related accidents and fatalities across the nation have decreased since 1990.

The study, conducted by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators — a group of government, public and private stakeholders overseeing road safety regulations in Canada — states that there has been a 20 per-cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 1,700 and 570, respectively) in crashes involving commercial carriers.

Wile such crash statistics have declined, the report says the number of total licensed drivers in Canada has jumped over the past 14 years, from approximately 17 million to 21 million. The number of registered vehicles has also increased from approximately 16 million to 18 million.

Other highlights include: an increase to 95 per cent in the rate of seatbelt use, as well as a 40 per-cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities of occupants not wearing seatbelts; a 20 per-cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 1,100 and 160, respectively) among young drivers between the ages of 16 and 19; a 40 per-cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 6,600 and 1,400, respectively) on rural roads; and a 40 per-cent decline in seriously and fatally injured victims in crashes involving a drunk driver.

In 2001, Canada ranked fifth among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, based on fatalities per billion vehicle kilometres travelled. Ahead of Canada were Great Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway.