No. . H019/03For release - March 18, 2003
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette today released statistics that show road fatalities in Canada decreased 5.1 per cent in 2001 from the previous year and were lower than any year since 1954.
"Although we have seen an impressive reduction in the number of people killed or injured on our roads, these figures are a reminder that there are still too many collisions, injuries and deaths," said Mr. Collenette. "Transport Canada will continue to work with provinces, territories and other safety agencies on Road Safety Vision 2010 - an initiative that aims to make Canada's roads the safest in the world."
The statistics are included in Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics 2001 which was released today, and includes data on motor vehicle collisions and casualties for the year 2001 as well as historical information dating back to 1982. In addition, the publication shows a 2.7 per cent decrease in injuries, with 151,835 collisions accounting for 221,158 injuries to people.
The statistics, collected by Transport Canada in cooperation with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, show that, in 2001, there were 2,433 fatal collisions leading to 2,778 deaths. Motor vehicle occupants accounted for 77.7 per cent of all road user fatalities, with 1,475 drivers and 683 passengers killed. The remaining fatalities included 335 pedestrians, 161 motorcyclists and 60 cyclists.
Road Safety Vision 2010 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 per cent decrease in the average number of road users killed or seriously injured over the next five to seven years, compared to the 1996 to 2001 period. The plan is supported by provincial, territorial and federal governments as well as public and private sector stakeholders. The objective of Road Safety Vision 2010 is to reduce Canada's road fatality total to fewer than 2,100 by 2010.
Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics 2001 is available on Transport Canada's web site at www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety. To order a free copy or for more information on the department's road safety programs, call 1-800-333-0371.
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Contact:
François-Nicolas AsselinCommunications, Ottawa(613)993-0055
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