OTTAWA, Ont. – The number of fatalities on Canadian roads jumped 7% between 2004 and 2005, according to the latest Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions Statistics.

The increase in highway fatalities can be attributed to the increasing number of motorists. There are now more than 21.9 million licensed drivers in the country, the report shows. There were 786,000 commercial vehicles licensed in Canada in 2005, up from 752,000 the year before.

Road fatalities represent more than 90% of all transportation-related deaths. Since 1982, road traffic deaths have declined by nearly 30%. There were 2,578 fatal crashes in 2005, resulting in 2,923 deaths on Canadian roads.

“The safety and security of the travelling public is our top priority, and reducing fatalities and injuries on our roadways remains an ongoing challenge,” said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Transport Canada will continue to work with the provinces, territories, and other road safety agencies on Road Safety Vision 2010, an initiative that aims to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world.”

The Road Safety Vision 2010 aims to reduce Canadian road fatalities by 30% by 2010. For the full report on Canadian road collisions, visit: www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp/tp3322/2005/menu.htm.