Figures released by the Ontario Provincial Police on March 23 reveal that traffic accidents in the province between 2005 and 2014 were more likely to kill men than women. The numbers also showed that the overwhelming majority of motorists killed in the province during this time were not driving properly immediately before they were involved in a fatal accident.
According to the OPP data, car accidents in Ontario have claimed the lives of 2,358 men and 1,146 women over the last 10 years. Drivers made up 70 percent of these deaths while passengers accounted for 23 percent. Pedestrians made up the remaining 7 percent of road accident fatalities. One bright spot in the report was a noticeable reduction in fatalities among children and teenagers. Accidents claimed the lives of 68 young people in 2005, but that number had dropped to 20 by 2014.
Most deadly accidents in Ontario involve poor driving, and the data shows that only 450 of those killed on the roads between 2005 and 2014 were driving properly. Accidents involving commercial vehicles often lead to death or catastrophic injury, and only 22 of the 92 truck drivers who died in accidents over the last 10 years were driving properly, according to the data. The figures also reveal that though they did nothing wrong, 74 motorcyclists died during the period studied.
The safety of all road users is put at risk when drivers fail to remain alert and vigilant. Motorists who use an electronic device while behind the wheel or drive after consuming alcohol may face civil sanctions as well as criminal penalties when their negligent actions cause injury, loss or damage to others. To offset the losses suffered in such wrecks, a personal injury lawyer may file a lawsuit against reckless drivers seeking damages to compensate accident victims for their property damage, expenses and lost income.
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