Vulnerable road users

While vehicle occupants account for over 75 percent of the deaths and injuries on Canada’s roads, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians face considerable risks, since they have minimal or no protection compared to those by a motor vehicle passenger compartment. Crashes involving these vulnerable road users claimed 522 lives in 2001.

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Motorcyclists accounted for one in 18 fatalities

Motorcycle registrations in Canada have decreased from a high of 510,000 in 1983 to 318,000 in 2001. In 2001, there was one motorcycle for every 57 motor vehicles registered. Nonetheless, motorcyclists still accounted for almost five percent (157) of Canada’s road user fatalities in 2001.

Fatal motorcycle crashes claimed 65 percent fewer lives in 2001 than in 1983 when fatalities were at their highest (450). Motorcyclist fatalities were down significantly in 2001 compared to 1992 for age groups less than 35 and injuries were down for age groups less than 45. The age groups of 35-44 and above for fatalities and 45-54 and above for injuries showed increases.

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Bicycle deaths cut by more than half in the 05-14 age group.

The number of Canadians killed on bicycles showed an overall downward trend throughout the 1990s, however that trend has been broken during the past five years. These fatalities had reached a low of 40 in 2000 but have increased to 60 in 2001. Overall, fatalities had decreased 20 percent from the 1992 level and injuries were down 28 percent over the 10-year period.

Of the 60 bicyclists killed in 2001, 23 percent were over 55 years old, 22 percent were between 35-44 years of age, 10 percent were in each of the 05-09 and the 10-14 age groups, and 15 percent were in the 15-19 age group.

Despite helmet laws and education programs, cyclists between 5 and 14 years of age were still the most likely to be injured, accounting for 19 percent of injuries. The majority of these young people - 5 of 6 fatalities and 73 percent of injuries - were boys.

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Older pedestrians accounted for one third of all pedestrian fatalities

Across Canada, during the period 1992-2001, pedestrian deaths declined by 24 percent, injuries by 10 percent. In 2001, 334 pedestrians were killed and 13,475 were injured. That’s one pedestrian killed and 37 injured each day, on average. Almost 70 percent were killed in urban areas, almost two-thirds at intersections.

Canada’s seniors were particularly vulnerable. People 65 and over accounted for a third of pedestrian fatalities in 2001, even though they represented only 12.6 percent of the population. Pedestrian fatalities among males in the 65+ age group decreased by 13 percent over the 10-year period, while pedestrian fatalities among women of the same age group decreased 30 percent.

Extracts from the Traffic Accident Information Database reflect a compilation of the collision statistics most frequently requested through our information desk, web site and communications group.

To find out more about national road safety programs and initiatives, call Transport Canada toll free at 1-800-333-0371 or (613) 998-8616 if you are calling from the Ottawa area, or e-mail comments or questions to roadsafetywebmail@tc.gc.ca.

Sources of information:
Transport Canada, Road Safety, Traffic Accident Information Database (TRAID)
Traffic Injury Research Foundation, The Alcohol-Crash Problem in Canada: 2000.
Statistics Canada, Canadian Vehicle Survey: 2000.
Data for 1998 and 1999 in the above tables were restated where necessary due to the receipt of updated information.