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RoadSmart Report | February, 2004
Preliminary 2003 casualty collision statistics released
Despite a long-term trend of the number of alcohol-related collisions
declining in Saskatchewan, alcohol continues to be the leading cause
of traffic fatalities in the province.
According to preliminary statistics from SGI’s Traffic Accident
Information System (TAIS), 39 per cent of all fatal collisions in
2003 involved alcohol. This is consistent with the average over
the past three years.
Fifty-eight people died in collisions involving alcohol in 2003.
In 2002, there were 51 fatalities in alcohol-related collisions.
The three-year average is 59.
"Drinking and driving is still a significant road safety
problem in Saskatchewan," says Kwei Quaye, Manager of SGI's
Traffic Safety Program Evaluation. "All deaths from driving
after drinking are preventable, and we will continue to work with
the public and law enforcement to raise awareness of this issue."
Also of concern is the lack of seat belt use in rural and First
Nations communities. Fifty-eight per cent of deaths on rural roads
involved unbelted occupants. All of the fatalities reported on First
Nations roads involved unbelted people.
"Many times people in rural areas don’t buckle up because
they are travelling on roads where there is little to no traffic,
but last year over 90 per cent of the fatalities where the victim
was not wearing a seat belt were single-vehicle collisions,"
says Quaye.
The preliminary 2003 casualty collision statistics were released
with the complete 2002 TAIS annual report.
If you would like a copy of the 2003 casualty collision statistics
or the 2002 TAIS annual report, please contact Dwight McNaughton,
Traffic Safety Program Evaluation, at (306) 775-6668.
Contact:
Kwei Quaye
Manager, Traffic Safety Program Evaluation
SGI
Regina
(306) 775-6182
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