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B.C. could cut traffic deaths in half, new SFU study suggests
VANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980)
Laura Baziuk | Email news tips to laura.baziuk@corusent.com
2/28/2013

A new study from Simon Fraser University suggests traffic-related deaths in B.C. could be cut in half.

Health scientist Meghan Winters has compared B.C.’s rate to that of other countries, and says this province could eliminate more than 200 traffic deaths per year.

She says the fact that some northern European countries have so few traffic deaths suggests B.C. can do more.

"Some of those probably have to do with speed, especially reducing speeds, and other strategies that can be taken in terms of looking at the more vulnerable road users – pedestrian and cyclists – to ensure that there's separation between the vulnerable road users and motor vehicles."

Winters' research also finds that taking the bus carries 20 times less risk than other common modes of transportation, while motorcycles carry 25 times more risk.

She also calls for more research on travel behaviour in Canada, such as a national trip diary, to help prevent the fatalities.


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  1. Specimen Yarp posted on 02/28/2013 09:15 AM
    You could get rid of all traffic deaths if you eliminated the car.
    Instead of more stupid knee jerk laws, how about making it so that you have to know how to drive a car before you get a license?
    1. DougB_25 posted on 02/28/2013 09:54 AM
      @Specimen Yarp Hear,hear Specimen Yarp.No where in the article does it mention that just getting a drivers license in most of Europe is a whole lot more difficult than in BC.Or Canada,for that matter.We give out driver's licenses as if they were candy mints.Then,even after a driver proves that he or she can't drive and obey the law at the same time,we almost never take those licenses away.Our governments will go to the end of the earth to track down a kid not wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle.We'll call out the swat team to catch some poor schmuck who dared to smoke on a beach.But people operate their vehicles like bumper cars,and no one cares enough to just get them off of the road.People don't get into vehicle accidents because our roads or our laws are bad.They get into accidents because they are either unwilling,or unable to driive their cars and obey the rules of the road at the very same time.No one needs another study to show what is clearly obvious on our roads every day.What is lacking is COMMON SENSE,and our demand that people who don't use it,still have the "right" to drive on our highways.
  2. lg_3045 posted on 02/28/2013 09:26 AM
    well its not the law that will make things better, its stricter licensing that would help instead of giving every halfwit a license here. euro countries have higher speed limits and crazier drivers (ever driven in Italy or Greece?) however unlike people here, they have common sense and dont need to babied like BC drivers. Also, enough with the damn cyclists here tkaing over our roadways, should be like in Europe, cyclists get out of the way for cars, haha!
  3. MichaelD_10 posted on 02/28/2013 12:08 PM
    This is a bigger problem than most would think. 114 people die every day in the US. That's 114 people every day 365 days a year, for the last 30 years.
    I have a solution that has been used before but not for cars.
    A helmet law. We use it to save lives and medical costs for motor cycles and bikes. I think with the amount of folks that drive, a helmet law could be very effective.
  4. speakup posted on 02/28/2013 12:27 PM
    give us some real stats

    - how many accidents are caued by bad ethnic drivers
    (you know who they are - come on - it is OBVIOUS)
    -and what about ALL THOSE - student studying here licences????
    NO TESTING - just approved stamp!!

    if you have ever been t ANY Asian country (or Richmond) you know what i am talking about - JUST FACTS not raciss comments
    I truyly beleive they have NO perefrial vision - and certainly never use any mirrors and many times can bare,ly see over dash board

    OH but what NICE CARS they have
    HAPPY to supplement these folks on the roa - NOT!!!!!!!!
  5. UnemployedinBC posted on 02/28/2013 12:47 PM
    a quick google search seems to suggest Ms winters is a bicycle weenie. of course you can shut down traffic deaths if you ban cars and force people to ride bicycles everywhere.

    BUSTED Meghan. Dont push your bike agenda on us.
    1. Ron_26 posted on 02/28/2013 04:00 PM
      @UnemployedinBC Interesting. Too bad Laura Baziuk didn't think of that.
  6. True Blue posted on 03/01/2013 08:28 AM
    I wonder if one of the solutions "discovered" was as simple as reflective road paint? Not sure when we stopped using it here in BC but surely actually being able to see the lanes in the dark and during poor weather would reduce quite a few traffic deaths.
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