Recent reports released by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) show that the majority of fatal motor vehicle collisions on roads and highways patrolled by the OPP in 2014 result from poor driving behaviour or habits. The results are based on 10 years of accident investigation data.
Though many types of poor driving habits caused the fatal collisions, most of the collisions were caused by the following four main factors:
- impaired driving,
- distracted driving,
- speeding, and
- not using safety equipment like a seat belt or helmet.
*Source: www.opp.ca | Open Government License www.ontario.ca
The reports, issued last month, indicate that the number of fatal collisions increased from 2013 to 2014. There were 251 fatal collisions in 2013, and that number increased to 265 in 2014.
Of the 265 fatal crashes in 2014, 73 were related to distracted driving, 46 were related to impaired driving, 61 were related to speeding and 50 were related to not wearing a seat belt or helmet.
The OPP is sharing the detailed collision and fatality data to “help drivers be more aware than ever that they have the strongest influence of all in putting an end to these deaths.” The reality is that fatal auto accidents are almost always preventable. The vast majority of the people who died in these fatal crashes did not have to die.
The OPP also released auto accident statistics for January 2015 and compared them to the numbers for January 2014. According to the OPP, the number of fatal collisions increased, and the number of people killed on OPP patrolled highways went up by 38%. There were 29 fatalities in January 2015 and 21 in January 2014.
We can only hope that January is not an indication of what will happen in the coming months.
However, the numbers thus far show that people are not getting the message. They continue to drive while under the influence, use their cell phones while driving and drive too fast. The number one cause of fatal accidents in 2014 was distracted driving.
The OPP can only do so much to enforce the law. Drivers themselves have to change their driving habits in order to prevent fatal crashes. Many of the fatal accidents in 2014 were avoidable. The easiest thing Ontario drivers can do is put their cell phones in their glove compartments or turn them off before driving.
Kingston, Ottawa & Whitby Auto Accident Injury Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Ontario, please call the lawyers at Bergeron Clifford to schedule a free consultation. 1-866-384-5886
