Sunday 9 October 2016

92% of all road deaths are preventable

Operation Impact traffic safety initiative, which kicks off Friday and runs over the Thanksgiving long weekend. Police will be out in full-force on both roadways and waterways targeting the “Big Four” factors.

An OPP report says about 92% of the 1,507 deaths on provincial police-patrolled roads in the last five years were preventable. This came out just as I had to travel 328 km to Toronto, returning on Friday of the long weekend.

city driving from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Before I left Toronto, I checked Google and there were 7 traffic incidents across the 401 highway. It was stop and go everywhere.


I made a bad mistake coming home. First, the 401 was bumper-to-bumper to Oshawa.  Then, I used the toll road, 407. It isn't complete, but it was very busy. Where it ends, EVERYONE was driving on CR 3, which had stop signs. There must have been 100 cars in front and behind. In hindsight, I'd use highway #7.


Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend. We do a lot of daycation driving. We see many incidents of aggressive drivers, as well as those who would risk our lives to hurry to their next destination. Life is too short. The attitudes of these cavalier drivers shocks me.

On one highway, I think 401, or perhaps 115, I had just passed a slower truck. A guy pulls up behind me, passes me on the right, just as I was about to go back into that lane. He passed me, passed another car on the right an then pulled in front of him with little room. I couldn't find the dashcam video of him, though.

I was driving 80 km/hr, the speed limit, here, highway #7.

being passed from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The Don Valley Parking Lot, as people call it! It wasn't bad on Friday afternoon on my journey home!
Don Valley Friday Aft from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Hubby drove into town last month. A woman behind him passed two cars behind him, on the 5 km to town limits, and then passed him. He pulled up behind her at the stop light. This is dangerous, stupid and puts us all at risk.




What can civilians do?
  • Tell your family, refuse to drive with those who would risk you or your loved ones. 
  • Slow down, someone out there loves you or your victim.
  • Call dangerous drivers out. 
  • Report dangerous driving.
Between 2011 and 2015, 1400 deaths (92%) were caused by the big four:
distracted driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and lack of seatbelt use.
  • inattentive driving was a factor in 408 deaths
  • speeding in 336 deaths
  • failure to wear a seat belt in 335 deaths
  • alcohol and drugs contributed to 321 deaths.

Press release

4 comments:

Red said...

We make safer roads, we educate and we pass laws. We still have to legislate against stupidity!!!

William Kendall said...

I thought that sped up drive in Toronto was on a familiar route- then saw Church street, and that confirmed it.

Anvilcloud said...

I usually exceed the speed limit somewhat on #7. I think it's safer for all not to have cars piling up behind me and doing reckless passing. But they still pile up and pass anyway.

Shammickite said...

I've been passed in a dangerous manner many times, only to find that the passer is right in front of me at the next red light!