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Canada plans to create world's safest roads   added 4/27/01
Date: 2001-04-15
Transport Canada has released ambitious plans, called Road Safety Vision 2010, to reduce the number of road fatalities and serious injuries in Canada by 30 per cent over the 1996-2001 average figures. The aim is to make Canada's roads the safest in the world. Some of the targets noted in the news release which follows are:
  • 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 of young drivers or riders between the ages of 16 and 19
  • a 20 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities in crashes involving commercial carriers
  • a 30 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities of pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists
  • and a 40 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities on rural roads.

No. H047/01     For release April 6, 2001

TRANSPORT MINISTER ANNOUNCES ROAD SAFETY VISION 2010

OTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette today announced the launch of Road Safety Vision 2010, 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 Minister made the announcement at the Road Safety Forum taking place in Ottawa today.

"Road Safety Vision 2010 builds on a solid safety foundation," said Mr. Collenette. "Today's event marks an important step forward in achieving Canada's vision of having the safest roads in the world."

The one-day forum brings stakeholders together to discuss achievable road safety targets for the next decade. These targets were developed by Transport Canada, through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, with input from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Transportation Association of Canada.

Since 1989, the number of licensed drivers in Canada has increased from approximately 17 to 21 million. The number of registered vehicles has also increased from approximately 16 to 18 million. Despite these increases, fatalities and serious injuries have decreased over the same period.

The goal of Road Safety Vision 2010 is to improve upon this trend and to make Canada's roads the safest in the world. Some of the targets are:

  • an increase from 90 to 95 per cent in the rate of seat belt use;
  • a 40 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 7,400 and 1,500 respectively) on rural roads; and
  • a 20 per cent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities (down from approximately 1,100 and 160 respectively) of young drivers between the ages of 16 and 19.

Road Safety Vision 2001 was developed in 1996 to support the vision that Canada have the safest roads in the world. In October 2000, the Council of Ministers of Transport endorsed an extension of the vision, called Road Safety Vision 2010.

"Travel on Canadian roads is safer today than it has been for decades," added Mr. Collenette. "Transport Canada will continue to work with other levels of government and with industry to make Road Safety Vision 2010 a reality."

A backgrounder is attached with the details on the Road Safety Vision 2010 targets, and further information on this initiative can be found at Transport Canada's website at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/forum/en/forum_e.htm

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Contact: Karyn Curtis, Communications, Ottawa (613) 990-6770

Transport Canada is online at http://www.tc.gc.ca/.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.