2019 road safety record: Pedestrians still vulnerable
In the era of COVID-19, it seems like Quebec’s new national sport is walking. Less traffic on the roads makes walking a more inviting prospect, but the 2019 road safety record released by Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) is a clear reminder not to drop your guard when stepping out to stretch your legs.
Overall, 2019 was the second best year in history for road safety. The SAAQ reported that 333 people were killed on the road last year—22 fewer than in 2018. The number of serious injuries also went down, and the number of deaths among young people age 15 to 24 dropped 23.9% compared to the 2014–2018 average.
“About fifty years ago, six people died every day on Quebec’s roads, and now we have less than one death a day,” said Marco Harrison, road safety expert and director of the CAA-Quebec Foundation. Obviously things have changed for the better, but we must keep in mind that every death can be prevented. We must continue to raise public awareness to reduce fatalities.”
Watch out for pedestrians
This overall positive picture hides some disturbing data about pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable road users, along with cyclists. The 71 people who died walking on the roads in 2019 represented an 18.7% increase compared to the average of the previous five years.
However, more and more new vehicles are designed to protect walkers and cyclists in the event of a collision, e.g., with an energy-absorbing zones built into the front end. A growing number of models also feature an automatic emergency braking feature that can detect pedestrians.
Other sobering statistics
In addition to pedestrian safety, other figures in the 2019 road safety record are cause for concern:
- There was a 17.9% increase in deaths among people age 65 to 74 compared to the 2014–2018 average.
- Fatalities went up 25% to 100% compared to 2018 in six regions of Quebec: Capitale-Nationale, Estrie, Montreal, Laval, Laurentides, and Centre-du-Québec.
- 20.1% of drivers killed in 2018 who were tested for alcohol were over the legal limit.
Education is key
It is true that the 2020 road safety record will probably look much brighter because traffic has thinned dramatically across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the figures from the last two years don’t lie: We have more work to do when it comes to protecting pedestrians.
“This is not the time to relax our efforts or slip into bad habits because there are fewer people on the road. The CAA-Quebec Foundation will therefore continue to take concrete action to educate the public on best practices in road safety,” said Mr. Harrison.
Visit the Foundation website to find out more about our road safety efforts, including the There’s No Age Limit for Safe Driving guide for seniors, the UPP method (in French) to avoid driver distraction, our educational outreach in secondary schools (when possible), and tools to prevent impaired driving among young people.
About CAA-Québec
CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1904, that assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance, and residential benefits, products, and services. As a leading advocate for road safety at every stage of life, CAA-Quebec’s actions and services in this area include child car-seat verification as well its school safety patroller program and its driving schools. In addition, through its Foundation, CAA-Quebec offers a variety of awareness-raising activities for high school students and seniors.
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