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Canada to Lead the World in Traffic Safety
Road Safety Vision 2001 was developed in 1996 to support the goal of Canada having the safest roads in the world. Since 1996, road fatalities have decreased by six percent, and serious injuries related to road travel have decreased by 15%. Under the leadership of the federal government and with broad-based input from the traffic safety community, including all jurisdictions, a national action plan is in place to continue the progress.
Road Safety Vision 2010 aims to reduce the number of road fatalities and serious injuries in Canada by 30% compared to 1996-2001 average figures. More than 2,700 road users were killed and 221,000 injured in crashes in 2001. Achievement of the plan's targets would reduce Canada's road fatalities to fewer than 2,100 by 2010.
From 1982 to 2001, the number of licensed drivers in Canada rose by 45%, from about
15 million to 20.8 million. The number of registered vehicles increased by 26%, from
14.3 million to 18 million. Despite these increases, fatalities and serious injuries decreased over the same period.
The Road Safety Vision 2010 targets include:
- an increase from 90 to 95% in the rate of seat belt use;
- a 20% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 1,100 and 160, respectively) of young drivers or riders between the ages of 16 and 19;
- a 20% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 1,800 and 610, respectively) in crashes involving commercial carriers;
- a 30% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 3,800 and 620, respectively) of pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists; and
- a 40% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 7,400 and 1,500, respectively) on rural roads.
The program also includes targets aimed at reducing the effects of high-risk driving practices, including:
- a 40% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 2,900 and 900, respectively) of occupants not wearing seat belts; and
- a 40% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 3,600 and 1,070, respectively) in crashes involving a drinking driver.
Achieving the goals set out in Road Safety Vision 2010 will save an estimated 5,000 lives over the next eight years.
Details can be found on Transport Canada's Web site.
Transport Canada, July 2002
(updated January 2004)
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Safety Canada
October 2002
Canada Aims High (Road Safety Vision 2010)
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