Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says that most fatal accidents on the roads that it patrols are the result of driver error or bad driving behaviour. The four biggest factors over a 10-year period were distracted driving, impaired driving, not using helmets or seat belts, and speeding.

On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Car Accidents on Friday, February 20, 2015.

Ontario Provincial Police says that most fatal accidents on the roads that it patrols are the result of driver error or bad driving behaviour. The four biggest factors over a 10-year period were distracted driving, impaired driving, not using helmets or seat belts, and speeding.

According to a report released on Feb. 9, there were 265 fatal collisions that caused 287 deaths in 2014. Fifty of those deaths involved the occupants not wearing helmets or seat belts, 61 involved speeding, 46 involved impaired driving and 73 involved distracted driving. These figures declined from 2013, in which 290 people were killed in 251 deadly crashes. Forty-seven deaths involved speeding, 71 involved the occupants not wearing helmets or seat belts, 73 involved impaired driving and 88 involved distracted driving.

OPP also says there has been a decline in the number of traffic collision fatalities over the previous decade. In 2005, there were 380 fatal accidents that took the lives of 443 people. Of those deaths, 63 involved impaired driving, 120 involved the occupants not wearing helmets or seat belts, and 159 involved speeding. No statistics were recorded for distracted driving-related fatal crashes in 2005. Authorities believe that these figures will continue to decline as public awareness increases. To achieve this they aim to share accident and fatality figures with drivers.

The spouse, children, parents or other dependents of someone who dies in a serious car accident might be able to recover the pecuniary losses if the deceased did not contribute to the crash. The survivors could talk to lawyers about the potential for a case. That lawyer could build a case that demonstrates the negligence and liability of the defendant after reviewing the information included in police reports.

Source: CBC News, “Driver inattention the biggest factor in crash fatalities, OPP say,” Feb. 9, 2015