Toronto had fewer traffic deaths in 2011: police

There were far fewer people who died on Toronto roads in 2011 than in  2010, Toronto police said Friday.

In fact, 35 people died, down nearly 20 per cent from 43 in 2010, and the number of traffic fatalities has been declining since 2008.

In 2008, 54 people were killed on roads. In 2009, that number dropped to 48.

The drop in fatal crashes can be attributed to a number of factors, including public education campaigns and law enforcement.

Police said that improvements in pre-hospital medical care and better-staffed hospital trauma units also contributed to the decline.

Data shows that almost half of the people who die in traffic collisions are pedestrians. Of the 35 people killed last year, 18 were pedestrians.

Police said pedestrians should not jaywalk, as drivers are rarely expecting anyone to walk in front of their car mid-block, and they should use a controlled intersection to cross the street.

Police said several other factors contributed to the decline in road deaths:

  • high compliance of seatbelt use.
  • properly installed child-safety seats.
  • increased enforcement of longstanding laws, such as speed limits.
  • police focus on impaired driving and dangerous driving.
  • police focus on distracted and careless driving.
  • improved driver-training practices.
  • airbags, ABS brakes, electronic stability control devices.

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