Canadians remember road crash victims

November 23 marks the fourth annual commemoration of National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims. It was designated as such in 2008 not only to remember the thousands who have died or been seriously injured in a car accident but also as a means of drawing attention to the importance of practicing safe driving habits.

Ward Keith, chair of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, said traffic safety should be a top priority for passengers and drivers alike.

"Everyone has a role to play in improving the safety on our roadways," said Keith. "Motor vehicle crashes are avoidable and each of us can take action to make our roads safer by rethinking road safety."

According to crash statistics, on average, six people in Canada die in traffic accidents every day, with victims tending to be between the ages of 5 and 34. This translates into one person being killed in a crash every four hours, 365 days a year.

While even one traffic accident death is one too many, safety officials say there have been fewer crashes recently than in years past. Despite 1.4 million kilometers of road and higher traffic volumes, CCMTA says there were 9.5 deaths per every 100,000 drivers in 2009, a sharp decline from the 13.2 fatalities per 100,000 motorists in 2001.

Hoping to continue this trend, the Ontario Provincial Police has recently launched its annual Festive R.I.D.E campaign, which stands for Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere. From November 25 through January 1, provincial police officers will be out in full force, looking for motorists who are driving in a manner that may suggest they've been drinking, such as speeding or drifting too far to the left or right side of traffic lanes.

"Year after year, our Festive R.I.D.E. campaign proves effective in taking impaired drivers off our roads," said Don Bell, commander of the highway safety division for the OPP. "If you're drinking, come up with a plan that involves not driving such as taking a cab, a bus or have a designated driver. Don't drink and drive, don't let those who are drinking drive and be sure to report those who do."

The OPP says impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death in Canada. Last year, 308 impaired driving charges were administered to violators and more than 900 licences were suspended. Individuals ticketed may have seen their auto insurance policies adversely impacted as a result.

Officials are calling on Ontario motorists to take extra precautions during the holiday travel period and to call 911 if they suspect someone is driving drunk.