B.C. honours road crash victims, sets road safety goals

 In recognition of the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, and to honour the memory of those lost on our roads, the Province is committing to reducing preventable deaths on B.C.’s roads and becoming the safest jurisdiction in North America by 2020.

To date, British Columbia has had much success, with a 21-per-cent reduction in the number of motor vehicle fatalities over the past five years – from 354 in 2008 to 281 in 2012. However, as this year’s national theme clearly states, “Victims and their families are not the only ones impacted by road crashes. Entire communities suffer the loss”.

To continue this good progress, a number of key road-safety initiatives are already underway. These include ICBC’s programs to educate drivers on how they can help prevent crashes from happening, the Enhanced Traffic Enforcement Program which targets specific dangerous-driving behaviours, and continued focus on the success of the Immediate Roadside Prohibition program and the 143 lives saved since the program was introduced three years ago.

Quick Facts:

• The top three contributing factors to motor vehicle fatalities are impairment due to alcohol and drugs, speed, and distracted driving.

The Southern Interior region accounts for the highest number of fatal crashes in B.C., with a five-year average of 111 fatalities per year.

• The average age of road crash victims is increasing in B.C. The proportion of fatal victims aged 46 to 75 increased from 31 per cent in 2002 to 38 per cent in 2011.
• The proportion of younger fatal victims aged 16 to 45 years old decreased from 54 per cent in 2002 to 44 per cent in 2011.