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Three recently released U.S. studies show a disproportionate number of unlicensed drivers are involved in fatal crashes. A study of fatal crashes involving red-light running found that of the drivers who ran red lights, 23 per cent drove with expired, revoked or suspended licenses. Of 54,935 drivers involved in fatal crashes in 1997, more than 10 per cent had invalid licenses. Another study found that 20 per cent of U.S. traffic-crash fatalities involved at least one driver who was improperly licensed or whose license status was unknown.
Traffic Safety, November/December 1999, National Safety Council

During its first year (1999) Canada's firearms registry refused 578 licences for public safety reasons and revoked another 469 eight times more than the 59 revoked in the previous five years. Individuals are being identified as threats because of criminal records, prohibition orders or mental instability.
Ottawa Citizen, December 2, 1999

The number of Americans who commit suicide with guns now far surpasses those killed by others with firearms. The U.S. Vital Statistics Report shows that in 1997, guns were used in 17,566 suicides, compared with 13,522 homicides. According to Dr. Kay Redford Jamison of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 90 to 95 per cent of people who commit suicide had a diagnosable psychiatric illness.
New York Times, October 17, 1999

Anti-icing measures before snow falls and ice forms on the roadway, to prevent the bond of frozen precipitation to the road surface, help reduce traffic delays and resources needed to maintain safe road conditions. Liquid sodium chloride, or salt brine, is the most effective chemical for use above -9 C and will work to -6F. Accurate weather and road surface information are critical for the efficient use of anti-icing chemicals.
Salt & Highway Deicing, Fall 1999, Salt Institute

The national homicide rate in Canada dropped in 1998 to its lowest rate in 30 years. There were 555 homicides. Most were committed by someone known to the victim; only 15 per cent of the killings solved by police involved a stranger. Knives were the most common murder weapon. One killing in seven was drug-related.
Canadian Press, October 8, 1999

The province of Quebec is the only jurisdiction other than New York City where drivers are not allowed to turn right on red. But that might change this year. Transport Minister Guy Chevrette is consulting Quebecers on five controversial road safety topics: right turns at red lights, obliging all cyclists to wear helmets, using photo-radar to catch speeders, where in-line skaters should be allowed to travel, and whether to get tougher on drunk drivers.
Montreal Gazette, December 2, 1999

Alberta became the sixth Canadian jurisdiction to outlaw the popular teen practice of riding in the back of a truck, joining British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and the Northwest Territories. A government public opinion poll showed that 82 per cent of respondents agreed that riding in the back of a truck should be banned.
The Globe and Mail, November 11, 1999

Although most Canadian parents (91 per cent) consider their home to be childproof, more than half fail to take some of the more basic childproofing precautions. For example, 55 per cent of the parents surveyed do not lock up deadly household cleaning products.
DirectProtect, December 9, 1999

A study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that five times as many people are admitted to Ontario hospitals with injuries from falls as from traffic collisions. Of an average 180 persons per day admitted to hospital for treatment of injuries, 106 had suffered falls, compared with 23 in motor vehicle crashes. The most likely to be injured were elderly women, in falls.
Canadian Institute for Health Information, December 1, 1999

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