Did you know?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, in 1998, more children in Africa died from road crashes than from HIV and more young adults (aged between 15 and 44 years) were killed by road crashes than by malaria. WHO has forecasted that, by the year 2020, road crashes will be the second most common cause of premature death in the world (out of a list of about 120 different causes). It is conservatively estimated that between 30 and 45 injuries occur for every road death. Many will involve life long disability.
Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSProadsafety.org)

The US has over three times the number of guns per capita as Canada; the number of handguns per capita is 63.3 times higher. The rate of murders with firearms in the US is eight times higher than Canada; there were 549 homicides in Canada in 1998, compared to 17,874 in the US. Americans are twice as likely to commit suicide with a firearm as Canadians. In addition, murders without guns are almost twice as high in the US. Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice Canada (Kwing Hung), June 2001

In Spring 2001, the Institute for Social Research, York University, surveyed 4,211 students in grades seven through 13 (OAC). The survey found that alcohol use is up: more young people are drinking and getting drunk. The percentage of youth who reported drinking alcohol was 63 per cent (up from 57 per cent in 1993). More students engaged in binge drinking (drinking five or more drinks at a time) — 25 per cent in 2001, compared to 18 per cent in 1993. The percentage who admitted to getting drunk rose from 17 per cent in 1993 to 27 per cent in 2001. About 32 per cent of all students said they had been a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health News Release, November 19, 2001

Suspected drunk drivers in Alberta can loose their licence for 90 days even if their criminal impaired driving charges are dropped or dismissed. The Court of Queen's Bench ruled that the province's license suspension program is independent of criminal charges because it ensures public safety.
National Post, September 7, 2001

More than 97,000 people died of preventable injuries in the United States in 2000. Unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. About 29,500 people died from unintentional injuries in the home and community, 9,300 of them from falls. Falls are the number one cause of injury-related death for males 80 and older and for females 75 and older.
Injury Facts 2001, National Safety Council

In Ontario, 18 per cent of fatal crashes and 30 per cent of personal injury crashes occur at an intersection. In 42 per cent of fatal crashes and 29 per cent of injury crashes, disobeying a traffic signal is a factor. This adds up to about 61 fatal crashes and 4,800 injury crashes. Extrapolated to the whole of Canada, running red lights could account for as many as 200 fatal crashes and 13,000 injury crashes each year.
The Road Safety Monitor, October 2001, Traffic Injury Research Foundation

Unintentional firearm deaths (UFDs) comprise a small proportion of all firearm deaths. On average there are 50 per year in Canada. In addition, hospitalization data show at least 10 times that many nonfatal injuries. At least half of the victims are under age 25. A recent study revealed a strong association between gun ownership levels and UFD rates across Canada. The implication for policy is that UFDs can best be prevented by combining safety training for all owners with a reduction in ownership levels.
Unintentional Firearm Deaths, Canadian Journal of Public Health, September/October 2001

Coming Soon: A New Kind of Bike

The next craze in recreational vehicles may be the power assisted bicycle. Manufacturers are poised to start producing these bikes, which should hit the market in 2003.

The bikes use fuel-cell technology with pollution-free hydrogen gas to generate an electric current that enhances the pedal power of the cyclist. A prototype developed by an Italian bike maker can reach speeds up to 32 km/h

The bikes are expected to be popular among seniors. The Canada Safety Council is concerned that potential risks must be identified so that safety measures can be taken as the bikes enter the market.

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