These four objectives have resulted in initiatives that have already contributed to steadily declining fatalities despite the growth and steadily increasing mobility of Canada’s population.

 

To raise public awareness of road safety issues, for example, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police undertook to inform motorists of the benefits of restraint use and of the dangers of driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs and other high-risk driving behaviours. This undertaking has, in turn, been reinforced by efforts of the Canadian Coalition for Child Passenger Safety to promote proper child restraint use.

 

To improve communication, cooperation and collaboration among road safety agencies, three initiatives have been introduced. In Alberta, the police have partnered with provincial and federal government agencies in developing a survey on rural night-time alcohol use. Nationally, the road engineering community is developing manuals delineating national guidelines such as a uniform protocol for building rumble strips and for conducting road safety audits. Again, nationally, truck and bus operators and federal and provincial government agencies have jointly developed a national safety rating system for commercial carriers.

 

To enhance enforcement measures, the targets of Road Safety Vision 2010 have been incorporated into the business plans of the RCMP, and other provincial and municipal police forces. By aligning police intervention efforts with the major target areas of Vision 2010 police services will aim to “make the most efficient use of their resources and enforcement efforts.”

 

To improve national road safety data quality and collection, road safety researchers have obtained from a national vehicle use survey comprehensive vehicle mileage data that has enabled them to focus on long-suspected road safety problem areas. A new automated computer and communications based data system called “System for Technological Applications in Road Safety” (STARS) which automates traffic collision reporting and related administrative functions is being tested for adoption to improve road safety data quality and collection procedures nationally.

 

The Vision 2010 report indicates that collectively, these initiatives to achieve the Vision’s strategic goals have made a difference. Statistics currently show generally a reduction in fatalities and injuries. Seat belt use is at 90%, one of the highest usages in the world. There has been a 20% reduction in the number of fatally injured drivers who had been drinking, as compared to the period 1990-1995.

 

However, there is still a lot of carnage on the highways. More than 2,900 people died in crashes on Canadian roads in 2000 from causes that remain as notorious problem areas. Impaired driving, speed, intersection crashes, and undivided rural roads are factors in many fatal crashes.

 

Basically, Vision 2010 is a step towards creating a serious social stigma to bad driving. This is a very achievable goal.

 

Please drive safely.