President's Perspective

In December 2001, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released its report on road fatalities. The report shows that over the past 20 years, Canada's traffic safety record has been second to none.

Our traffic fatalities dropped 47% between 1980 and 2000, despite a big increase in vehicles and drivers. (During that time the number of vehicles went up 48%, and the number of licenced drivers rose 37%.) Only three OECD member countries realized more progress: Austria and Switzerland cut the number of traffic deaths by 51% and Germany by 50%. The average improvement for all OECD countries combined was 20%.

Britain, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have the lowest motor vehicle fatality rates - less than 7 per 100,000 of population. Canada, with significantly higher vehicle ownership, has a road fatality rate of 10 per 100,000. The average for reporting OECD countries is 12.5.

OECD data do not correlate motor vehicle deaths with kilometres driven. According to a recent Transport Canada survey, Canadians log 475 billion kilometres a year; in other words, the average licensed driver travels over 23,000 km annually. It is inconceivable that European drivers cover such distances.

If distance traveled were factored in, Canada would likely be number one in traffic safety. Our impressive safety record confirms that our laws are working. The reduction in impaired driving is a prime example. In 1980, half of all drivers killed in crashes were over the legal limit; in 2000, just over 1/4 were legally impaired. Other major factors in Canada's success story include our high rate of seat-belt use, safer vehicles, driver behavior and public awareness campaigns.

Further progress will hinge on making existing laws work more effectively, rather than making more laws. For instance, a ban on cell phones has been suggested, despite the fact that careless driving laws are already in place. Since 1994, road fatalities have dropped by 10% while cell phone use has increased five-fold to over 10 million. The evidence does not support calls for a new law.

The OECD report credits high tech law enforcement tools such as photo radar and red light cameras for reducing collisions in member countries. However, many Canadian jurisdictions have been reluctant to implement this technology. Although running red lights could account for as many as 200 deaths and 13,000 injuries annually, some politicians still view red light cameras with suspicion. Universal acceptance of electronic enforcement would enable Canada to make further progress.

As Canadians we may be too humble to acknowledge our country is a world leader in road safety. We are doing a lot of things right.

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