Highway Deaths Down In BC

By 250 News

VICTORIA - The number of traffic fatalities on British Columbia roads

has declined dramatically thanks to concerted police enforcement

supported by provincial government programs, Minister of Public Safety

and Solicitor General John van Dongen announced today.

From a high of 411 fatalities reported by RCMP in 2002, in 2008 there

were 304 fatalities - a decline of 26 per cent. Municipal police

reported a similar decline in their jurisdictions; province wide in 2002

there were approximately 467 traffic fatalities, dropping to about 350

in 2008 - even though the population rose by 300,000.

"Everyone is affected by the senseless tragedies of road fatalities.

Deaths caused by impaired driving, not wearing seatbelts and aggressive

driving are preventable," said van Dongen. "By focusing on enforcement

and prevention programs that save lives we have the living proof that

our approach to road safety can encourage people to become safer

drivers."

In 2002, RCMP traffic enforcement officers committed to reducing crashes

that caused injury and death by strategically deploying resources to

combat the three main contributing factors. The results from 2007 to

2008 highlight declines in key dangerous driving habits:

* Impaired driving - alcohol-related deaths are down 15 per cent

(according to the BC Coroners Service);

* Unbuckled seatbelts - deaths of unbelted occupants are down 40 per

cent; and

* Aggressive driving - fatal collisions are down 34 percent; aggressive

driving at urban intersections is down 26 per cent.

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