The Canadian government is continually striving to improve road safety across the country and lower rates of injuries and fatalities. In 2018, the number of motor vehicle fatalities increased from 1,856 in 2017 to 1,922 (a 3.6% jump), the National Collision Database reveals. However, the number of serious injuries decreased from 10,107 in 2017 to 9,494 in 2018 (a 6.1% drop). Fortunately, 2018 marked the sixth year in a row for a fatality count under 2,000, a number that will hopefully diminish in the coming years.
Be careful in parking lots
In Thunder Bay, over one-third of car accidents happen in parking lots. “When you consider that 33.7% of all of our collision totals represents private parking lots — private property — that’s a significant number of collisions,” traffic sergeant Glenn Porter explains. Police haven’t published statistics for accidents in specific parking lots. However, Porter states most of the parking lots are in retail stores. Porter advises drivers to remain courteous and give each other space in parking lots. And if you see a hit and run? “Jot down the information, so that you can provide that to the poor individual who’s inside the store and has no way of knowing who hit their vehicle,” he said.
Three killed in Thunder Bay car crash
Already this year, three people were killed in a collision between two commercial vehicles on the junction of Highway 11/17 west of Sistonen’s Corners. The collision occurred just after 10.30 pm on a Thursday in January. Police identified the driver of the westbound vehicle as 49-year-old Kenneth MacDonald of Thunder Bay. 23-year-old Singh Gurpreet of Mississauga, Ontario and 24-year-old Singh Karambir of Brampton, Ontario were the two people in the eastbound vehicle. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
What to do after a car accident
Car accidents are a frightening, upsetting, and stressful experience, no matter the extent of the injuries or damage. When injuries are significant, they result in medical bills and time taken off work. Consulting a qualified car accident lawyer can help people involved in car accidents get the compensation they deserve. Working with an experienced attorney gives injured parties peace of mind they’ll be able to cope with the financial burden. Without the extra stress, they’re also free to fully focus on recovering emotionally and physically from the accident and getting life back on track.
Let’s hope road accidents, injuries, and fatalities in Canada decline even further this year. Increased safety precautions and responsible driving can help improve road safety across Canada.
