TORONTO, (April 8, 2004) — A new report consisting of motor vehicle collision data across Canada and the U.S. shows that Ontario roads have some of the lowest crash rates in North America — and that heavy trucks are some of the safest vehicles on the road.

The Ontario Road Safety Annual Report (ORSAR) 2002 — released in recognition of World Health Day, which for the first time is dedicated to the issue of road safety — was put together using a wide-range of data and sources including various ministries, police services, and the Chief Coroner’s Offices.

While the total number of road fatalities in 2002 was 873, up slightly from the previous year, the longer term trend is that road fatalities continue to decrease. In 2001, 845 fatalities occurred, the lowest number since 1950.

Although the number of large trucks increased across the province, fatalities in large truck crashes actually decreased by 13 per cent since 1990. Consequently, the number of fatalities per 100,000 large trucks has declined over this period — a 36 per cent decline in the fatality rate.

Additionally, between 1988 and 2002, the large truck population grew by 37.8 per cent while the number of fatal collisions involving large trucks decreased by 24.2 per cent. By contrast, the total number of passenger vehicles increased by only 22 per cent.