TORONTO, Ont. – Fatalities from motor vehicle collisions in Ontario dropped to the lowest number ever recorded, according to the province’s 2004 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report (ORSAR).

“Our efforts to improve road safety helped make Ontario’s roads the safest in North America for the second year in a row,” said Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield. “We encourage all drivers to continue to drive carefully and help keep our roads safe.”

ORSAR 2004 reports that Ontario’s fatality rate, measured as the number of traffic deaths per 10,000 licensed drivers, dropped to 0.92 in 2004 – a 5% decline compared to 2003 and the lowest rate recorded since Ontario began keeping statistics in 1950.

“This decline reflects the McGuinty government’s serious commitment to road safety, and our successful partnership with police, emergency services personnel and the many excellent road safety groups in communities across the province who do tremendous work every day,” Cansfield added.

“They deserve credit for this impressive result.”