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No. H077/02
For release July 16, 2002
TRANSPORT MINISTER ANNOUNCES UPDATE OF
ROAD SAFETY VISION 2010; FATALITIES AND SERIOUS
INJURIES RELATED TO ROAD TRAVEL DECREASE
OTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette today released the 2001 update
of Road Safety Vision 2010, which indicates that road fatalities have decreased
by six per cent, and serious injuries related to road travel have decreased by
15 per cent, since 1996.
Road Safety Vision 2010, adopted by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport
Administrators (CCMTA), is a long-term plan aimed at reducing the number of road
fatalities and serious injuries in Canada by 30 per cent compared to the
1996-2001 average figures. The update also shows that more than 2,900 road users
were killed and more than 227,000 injured in crashes in 2000.
“Since road fatalities account for more than 90 per cent of all
transportation related deaths, it is imperative that we keep working to make our
roads safer,” said Mr. Collenette. “Although statistics indicate that
progress has been made in reducing fatalities and serious injuries, we must
remain vigilant in our efforts to lower these numbers further.”
Over the past 13 years, the number of licensed drivers in Canada has
increased from approximately 17 million to 21 million. The number of registered
vehicles has also increased from approximately 16 million to 18 million. Despite
these increases, fatalities and serious injuries have decreased over the same
period.
“Although travel on Canadian roads is safer today than it has ever been,
Transport Canada will continue to work with the provinces, territories, and
other stakeholders through the CCMTA to make our roads even safer,” added Mr.
Collenette. “Achieving the goals set out in Road Safety Vision 2010 will save
an estimated 5,000 lives over the next eight years.”
Road Safety Vision 2001 was developed in 1996 to support the goal of Canada
having the safest roads in the world. In October 2000, the Council of Ministers
of Transport endorsed an extension of the program, called Road Safety Vision
2010.
A backgrounder is attached with the details on the Road Safety Vision 2010
targets. Further information can be found at Transport Canada’s Website at: www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/vision
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Contact:
Christina Van Loon
Communications, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and
speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from
Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons
with visual disabilities.
BACKGROUNDER
ROAD SAFETY VISION 2010 TARGETS
Travel on Canada’s roads is safer now than it has been for decades.
However, Transport Canada, along with its partners in the Canadian Council of
Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) -an association of government, public,
and private stakeholders - is working together to make road travel even safer
through Road Safety Vision 2010. This Vision is a national program aimed at
making Canada’s roads the safest in the world. It encompasses a broad range of
initiatives that focus on road users, roads, vehicles, and carriers.
Road Safety Vision 2010 is a long-term plan aimed at reducing the number of
road fatalities and serious injuries in Canada by 30 per cent over the 1996-2001
average figures. The CCMTA, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and
the Transportation Association of Canada have developed a number of specific
targets designed to help reach this goal.
The Road Safety Vision 2010 targets include:
- an increase from 90 to 95 per cent in the rate of seat belt use;
- a 20 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from
approximately 1,100 and 160, respectively) of young drivers or riders
between the ages of 16 and 19;
- a 20 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from
approximately 1,800 and 610, respectively) in crashes involving commercial
carriers;
- a 30 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from
approximately 3,800 and 620, respectively) of pedestrians, motorcyclists and
cyclists; and
- a 40 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from
approximately 7,400 and 1,500, respectively) on rural roads.
The program also includes targets aimed at reducing the effects of high-risk
driving practices, including:
- a 40 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from
approximately 2,900 and 900, respectively) of occupants not wearing seat
belts; and
- a 40 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from
approximately 3,600 and 1,070, respectively) in crashes involving a drinking
driver.
July 2002
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