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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-10-29, Page 35The 1985 road aceident re From the Ontario Safety League There is some good news and some bad news in the 1985 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report, recently released by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. The good news is that motorcycle fatalities fell by 12.6 per cent and bicycle fatalities dropped from 50 in 1984 to 43 in 1985. There was also a decrease in the total number of motor vehicle accidents, althougll,that is probably due toa change in the rep ting criteria for property -damage only accidents. A disturbing increase is shown in the number of vehicle accident -related fatalities. Specifically, 603 drivers and 357 passengers were killed last year, against 460 and 282, respectively, through 1984. In total, 1,191 people were killed last year on Ontario's roads and high another 109,169 injured. Fur the first time sineg publishing accident statistics, the Ministry included comments on Hast and future trends as well as emerging issues. Young Drivers Young and inexperienced drivers remain a concern to those responsible for accident ays, with it began Speeding and failing to yield the right-of- way remain the most frequently noted er- rors committed by drivers involved in all accidents and particularly in serious ac- cidents. Speeding is also the most frequently recorded, Highway Traffic Act offence. Driver Condition By far the largest single factor con- tributing to traffic accidents is alcohol abuse. Approximately half the drivers killed each year had been drinking. However, in recent years some indications of improve- ment have appeared. For the past two years slightly more off the drivers killed were reported "normal" than were arcohol in- volved. In addition, examinations of the drivers killed in December -January have shown a sharp decline in alcohol involve - meet starting in 1983/84 Most drink - =.., of-ag ar - . over -represents in pcciaei` t -—trftWah - j their numbers in the total driver population. tourist. Jill 1VMwnlch f fund an unusual Whether this over -representation is the ., _ . -- } rented Yperi i:.,.- V arkiri ticket Uli his r en4ed t -aa . result of less skill and experience or because p g of attitudes which lead to more risk-taking Printed in several languages, it is widely debated. Additional factors read: weighing against young drivers are that Dear Guest: the City of Munich, they do a greater proportion of their driv- fam0u5 for hospitality... is happy to ing in the more hazardous nighttime and weekend periods than other drivers; they welcome you among its many often carry large numbers of potentially, visitors. distracting passengers; and they are more Unfortunately, you have violated likely to be driving vulnerable vehicles, i.e. one of our necessary parking motorcycles. The scenario of a nighttime accident involving a young, drinking driver regulations. We are sure that you, going too fast and crashing with a vehicle as a guest, are not aware of this full of passengers is repeated too often each violation. So no ticket is issued. To year. Male And Female Drivers help us regulate traffic... we 'ask Although today most women as well as you to observe parking regulations most men obtain their driver's licence and in the future. more women are making active use of that We .extend to you our wishes for licence, male drivers still predominate in accidents. Males make up 56 per cent of the an enjoyable and pleasant stay in driver population but represent 72.9 per cent our beautiful city. • of all drivers involved in accidents and 81.9 Hawaii: In an effort to reduce per cent of the drivers in fatal accidents. _11,11411Liatel potential effects on highway safety. Projec- tions regarding the nwnbers of elderly per- sons who will continue to drive Suggest that this group should receive long term atten- tion ttertion in highway safety research. One issue is the definition of "elderly" for highway safe- ty purposes. Older drivers do seem to be over -represented in accidents but only in the late 70s and older age groups. Pedestrians Pedestrian safety programs are often directed only at young p However, there are really three groups of accidents -involved pedestrians, each with its own characteristics. Young pedestrians run into traffic without looking or come from behind parked cars. Pedestrians in the 16 to 65 age group frequently had been drink- ing prior to accidents. In 1985, 28.6 per cent ing/driving occurs in the summer months, of all pedestrians killed were alcohol involv- however, and there is much room for ed. Research on pedestfians who had been improvement. drinking has shown that they have blood t ti s substantially, Old lSl'IVer5 v+l'viivl t'.Giac.c�e a�icaoi..� O°�.....d,..._._ally higher There has been concern expressed about than the BAC usually found in drinking l, : nitis'ett'x i.opulation and the drivers Lastly. elderly pedesteitaas also ort Page 3 form a significantly different group, perhaps because they may be physically less agile and because they are more likely to die when injured. The Vehicle Compared to other classes of vehicles, passenger vehicles are over -represented in all accidents. While passenger vehicles make up approximately two-thirds of the ac- tive Ontario vehicle population, they repre- sent 75 per cent of all vehicles involved in accidents. In 93 per cent of all accidents, the vehicles involved had no apparent defects. The Accident Fatal accidents occur most frequently during the summer months and between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight. In nearly 75 per cent of all the accidents, visibility was good. Fatal accidents are more likely to occur on provincial highways and injury accidents on municipal roads. For all accident classes, the road suafac;e was most can - manly dry. 77, 7 Safetv briefs from around the woriu Driver Action traffic congestion, state officials Give your radiator some real GUTS! RADIATOR CORE FALL SPECIAL! •Higher coolant flow thru 28% more tubes •Additional rows of fins offer greater copper con- tact 3/8" high fins - Make for a more rigid core •Lifetime Guarantee COOLING SYSTEM Flush With Wynn's Power Flush Machine thniway $11995 • plus chemicals 191 Walnut St., Goderich 524-4200 x'' 1 f _._:,4 a i Using ordinar` wheels on paved charge Oahu motorists 1. eery `let i evta •_ ____ _•ng rush a mended for the vehicle's forays mile for driving- utu att� the rash hour. Electronic equipment at the off the beaten track. island's most -congested locations would monitor driver's accounts — billing them on a monthly basis. China: According to a police * * * survey, some 25,000 bicyclists an Moscow: Soviet inventors have hour pass through one of Beijing's built a car which walks on steel busiest intersections. Only a small legs for use in rugged, isolated fraction of the estimated one areas of the country. million bicycles on China's roads. * * * Al • Don't get caught in the cold this year. Give your car the tune -u• it needs --- '. Winterize Your Car Now!!! ❑Battery Cables and Connections El Brakes ❑Tune -Ups ❑ All Fluid Levels (Anti -Freeze) Heater Hoses, etc. Licenced Mechanic on Staff. TIRES IN STOCK: •Goodyear All -Season *Kelly Springfield All - Season *Fibreglass Summer Radials *Winter Tires •Front Farm and Implement Tires. ADVANTAGE' MUFFLER WALKER LAlllfllllllpwu►►ittio HEW!! Front-end Alignment Service! DON'S GENERAL REPAIR HOLMESVILLE-21/2 miles South past White Carnation 482-9227