Road Fatalities Down

Transport Canada statistics on motor vehicle collisions and casualties for the year 2003 reveal that there are 21.7 million licensed drivers and over 18.8 million passenger vehicles on Canadian roads — more than ever before. In spite of this, collisions and casualties decreased by five percent from 2002, and injuries were down by three percent.

Although road fatalities still represent over 90 percent of all transportation-related fatalities, Canada's road safety record has steadily improved over the years. Since 1980, road traffic deaths have declined by almost 50 percent. The statistics, collected by Transport Canada in cooperation with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, show that in the year 2003, there were 2,496 fatal collisions leading to 2,778 deaths. Motor vehicle occupants accounted for 76.6 percent of all road user fatalities, with 1,473 drivers and 656 passengers killed. In addition, 378 pedestrians, 178 motorcyclists and 45 bicyclists were also killed on the road.

Road Safety Vision 2010 is an initiative introduced by the federal, provincial and territorial governments and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, in partnership with the Canada Safety Council and other stakeholders. It aims to raise awareness of road safety issues, to improve collaboration and cooperation among safety agencies and to toughen enforcement. This national plan calls for a 30 percent decrease by 2010 in the average number of people killed or seriously injured on Canada's roads.

 Transport Canada

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Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2003

Road Safety Vision 2010