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Canada and the World
International Comparison
The statistic most often used to compare road
safety records around the world is the number of road users killed for every
10,000 registered motor vehicles. During 1999, Canada ranked 9th among developed
countries, with a fatality rate that was virtually unchanged from 1998.
This comparative statistic was chosen because it is
readily available in most countries; however, it poses a number of problems. A
single indicator is often deceptive, as characteristics of individual countries
can be overlooked. Diverse factors such as country size, population density,
economic conditions, road infrastructure, public transport usage, culture,
travel patterns and climate all have a profound impact on road casualty
statistics.
Most road safety researchers prefer a different
statistic: the number of road users killed compared to vehicle distance
travelled. This statistic is now available in Canada thanks to the efforts of
stakeholders supporting the strategic priorities of Road Safety Vision 2001.
Using this indicator, Canada's international road
safety ranking stood at 8th during 1999. Only Australia retained the same road
safety ranking on a "deaths per vehicle kilometre" and "deaths
per registered motor vehicle" basis. It is evident that some of the world's
other "safest countries" are ranked quite differently depending on the
rating measure.
Ambitious Targets and Initiatives in Other Countries
Canada is not alone in its efforts to improve its
level of road safety. Most countries with top-ranked road safety records have
established ambitious long-term targets and have adopted tough interventions to
achieve those targets.
Great Britain has established goals for 2010 that
call for a 40% decrease in the number of people killed or seriously injured and
a 50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured; improved
anti-drink-driving and drug-use initiatives; upgraded road infrastructure;
raised standards for driver training; enhanced programs for child, motorcyclist
and vulnerable road user safety; and undertaken campaigns to reduce speeding.
Sweden has established a 2007 target of 50% fewer
fatalities and serious injuries in support of its Vision Zero goal, which calls
for no one to be killed or seriously injured within the transportation system;
introduced programs to promote helmets for cyclists and to reduce speeding and
drinking and driving; introduced traffic calming measures, compulsory use of
winter tires, and centre guard rails; and removed roadside hazards on selected
rural roads.
Finland has a goal to reduce traffic fatalities to
no more than 250 by 2005 and to match the percentage decline in serious injuries
that occurred during the 1990s; has introduced initiatives to reduce driving
after drinking; to identify and eliminate black-spot areas on both urban and
rural roads; to remove roadside obstacles and reduce speed limits on rural
roads; to build pedestrian and cyclist routes in densely populated areas; and to
reduce head-on and run-off-road collisions.
The Netherlands has established targets of 750 or
fewer fatalities and 14,000 or fewer hospitalized victims by 2010; has adopted a
multifaceted program called Sustainable Road Safety which includes improving
traffic law enforcement and road infrastructure, introducing initiatives to
reduce drinking and driving, speeding and other dangerous behaviours and
enhancing cyclist and heavy vehicle safety.
Norway has established a target of 200 or fewer
traffic fatalities by 2012; is developing new guidelines for reduced speed
limits (70 km/h) on roads designated as dangerous; has banned the use of cell
phones while driving; lowered the legal BAC limit to 20 mg%; introduced
improvements to roads and infrastructure and developed educational programs to
improve road user behaviour.
The United States has a goal to reduce fatalities
and injuries by 20% by 2008 and to reduce fatalities involving commercial
vehicles by 50% by 2010; has adopted initiatives to curb drinking and driving,
to increase seat belt use, to build safety into transportation infrastructure,
to improve emergency medical services, to increase public information and
education initiatives directed at high-risk drivers, to target enforcement
efforts at red light running, speeding, unsafe lane changing and ignoring
rail-highway grade crossing gates; and to introduce technological advancements
to augment vehicle handling and stability.
Australia has established a goal to reduce the
number of road fatalities per 100,000 population by 40% by 2010; is adopting
strategic initiatives to improve road user behaviour, vehicle compatibility,
occupant protection, and trauma, medical and rehabilitation services; is
introducing initiatives to enhance road safety policies, to use technology to
reduce human error and to encourage alternatives to motor vehicle use.
Switzerland's goal for 2010 is 350 or fewer
fatalities (Vision Zero objective is no fatalities or serious injuries); has
strongly promoted initiatives aimed at increasing the use of seat belts and
helmets; has improved road infrastructure and introduced traffic calming
measures; has increased public education campaigns and toughened enforcement
initiatives, particularly relating to alcohol use; and is introducing
legislation to reduce the legal BAC level to 50 mg%.
Germany is focusing (until 2010) on initiatives to
decrease the number of crashes involving vulnerable road users, young drivers
and heavy goods vehicles as well as collisions that occur on rural roads. is
focusing (until 2010) on initiatives to decrease the number of crashes involving
vulnerable road users, young drivers and heavy goods vehicles as well as
collisions that occur on rural roads.
Japan has established a target of at least 1,500
fewer fatalities in 2010 and a 20% reduction in the number of collisions
involving commercial vehicles; has prohibited the use of mobile phones while
driving; has improved road infrastructure, emergency rescue and medical
treatment services; has increased public education programs; developed safety
measures based on intelligent transportation systems; and modified its national
traffic collision report form to reflect mobile phone and car navigation system
use.
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