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.

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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