Our Road Safety Agenda
We need to improve road safety. Our lives depend on it. Yet as a society, we continue to tolerate an unacceptable level of risk and carelessness on the road.
- One out of every two Canadians will be injured in a road crash during their lifetime.
- Almost 40% of all teenage fatalities result from road crashes.
- Road crashes are the leading cause of death for Canadians under 40.
- Traffic collisions are the third leading cause of death in Canada.
- Nearly one in every hundred people in this country will be killed or injured on our roads.
- Road crashes claim nearly 3,000 lives and injure 200,000 people in Canada every year.
The costs are staggering - over $25 billion a year. That's just the dollar cost. Add to that the immeasurable pain and loss endured by crash victims and their families. For those who live with the aftermath of trauma and serious injury from traffic collisions, the costs continue for years.
We know what needs to be done
The overwhelming majority of deaths and injuries on our roads are preventable. TIRF has worked to improve road safety for all Canadians by generating and sharing knowledge on current and emerging issues and trends that affect road safety. We have influenced decisions and action by government, business and industry, traffic safety agencies and advocacy groups around the world in the areas of legislation, program and policy development, enforcement, education and training.
After more than four decades, TIRF's vision and commitment are stronger than ever. We are dedicated to improving road safety. And we know what's needed.
- Better understanding of road users: Over 80 percent of road crashes are caused by human error or condition. Through its research TIRF is improving understanding about why drivers behave as they do in order to intervene more effectively and help them develop safe driving behaviours.
- Relevant, effective measures: Programs and policies aimed at improving road safety have to address the underlying causes of road crashes. TIRF's research is the foundation for evidence-based programs and policies, and sound legislation targeting young drivers, commercial drivers, impairment, fatigue, distraction and other road safety concerns.
- Knowledge sharing and partnerships: Results won't come from isolated efforts. It takes shared knowledge and understanding, synchronized policies and programs, and coordinated, consistent effort across all sectors to improve road safety. TIRF has a developed a "systems" approach to bridge gaps and build partnerships among agencies and practitioners that are impacted by traffic safety issues. Knowledge transfer and skill development is a critical feature of these initiatives.
- Road safety needs to become a priority: Legislation and enforcement alone cannot prevent deaths and injuries. TIRF actively monitors public concern about road safety and works to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of unsafe road behaviours. More importantly, TIRF encourages action by government, industry and the public to address these problems.
What it takes
We take action on four fronts:
- Research on road crashes
- Program and policy development
- Knowledge transfer and exchange
- Evaluation plans, program and policy evaluation
These have been the pillars of TIRF's work since it was established as a national, independent road safety research institute in 1964. We're focusing our strengths to meet the key challenges to road safety in the next decade, and beyond.
