RoadSmart Report | May 2005

Preliminary 2004 casualty collision statistics released

While the number of injuries and deaths on Saskatchewan roads declined last year, alcohol-related collisions and the lack of seat belt use in rural and First Nations communities remain a concern.

Fewer people died on Saskatchewan roads last year, with the lowest number of fatal collisions ever recorded in a single year. In 2004, 126 people died as a result of traffic accidents in Saskatchewan. It represents a 14.9 per cent decrease from the 2003 figure of 148. Fatalities were also 16.4 per cent lower than the previous three-year average of 150.7.

Fewer people were also injured in 2004. Traffic collisions resulted in 7,284 injuries, 5.2 per cent lower than the 2003 number of 7,684 and 0.5 per cent lower than the previous three-year average of 7,320.

However, alcohol continues to be the number one contributing factor in fatal collisions in Saskatchewan. According to preliminary statistics from SGI’s Traffic Accident Information System (TAIS), 42 per cent of all collisions resulting in fatalities in 2004 involved alcohol. This is consistent with the average over the past three years.

Fifty-three people died in collisions involving alcohol in 2004. In 2003, there were 63 fatalities in alcohol-related collisions. The three-year average is 64.3.

“Drinking and driving is still a significant road safety problem in Saskatchewan,” says Kwei Quaye, Manager of SGI’s Traffic Safety 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 the issue.”

Also of concern is the lack of seat belt use in rural and First Nations communities. Sixty-two 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,” says Quaye.

Preliminary 2004 casualty collision statistics were released with the complete 2003 TAIS annual report.

Beginning with the 2003 TAIS, each year’s annual report will now also be available on SGI’s web site at www.sgi.sk.ca. By making TAIS available online, SGI hopes to facilitate timely access to data while also widening its reach.

Contact:

Kwei Quaye
Manager, Traffic Safety Program Evaluation
SGI
Regina
(306) 775-6182