Alarming statistics on crashes

The statistics seem implausible.

Police are cracking down on distracted driving — the fines are hefty. Young people are well educated on the dangers of impaired driving. Drunk driving laws became stiffer in 2010. With the advent of dash cams, there’s now public shaming for obnoxious drivers.

Yet in B.C., automobile crashes have increased by 25 per cent in just four years. There was an all-time high of 350,000 crashes in 2017, an average of 960 per day. If the trend continues, one in 10 drivers could cause a crash this year. (The statistics, which drew comparisons with 2014, included parking lots and parked vehicles.) So what’s happening? According to data released Tuesday by ICBC, distracted driving is still the major culprit with 41 per cent of crashes caused by cellphone use and other disturbances. Also on the list were: lack of respect for driving rules (22 per cent), speeding (16 per cent) and aggressive driving, including cutting other motorists off (16 per cent).

Western Canadians, in general, are really nice people. We also love kids. So why is it that when so many of us get behind the wheel of a car, we’re unkind to others?

Drivers who admit to displaying poor behaviour on our roads blame intense traffic and construction for their frustrations. (Think of the opening scene in the Michael Douglas movie, Falling Down.)

Not only do crashes result in unnecessary injury — or even death — a small accident can back traffic up for hours. If you’ve ever been trapped in line at the Bennett Bridge on your morning commute, you understand the aggravation. And, let’s not forget, the high insurance we all pay. The total cost of claims was $4.8 billion in 2017, equivalent to $13 million per day.

Perhaps the time has come for a mandatory written test every five years. ICBC is asking that we voluntarily take a free refresher course, which isn’t a bad idea. (Visit: icbc.com/drivesmart.)

About 70 per cent of the crashes were in the Lower Mainland, but the Southern Interior placed second with 46,000 in the past year alone.

It’s not an unreasonable request, people. Be alert, cautious and courteous and let’s save lives.