THEY AREN'T ACCIDENTS AND THEY AREN'T RANDOM

I would rather die on purpose, rather than as the result of someone's carelessness; the overlooked shoulder check or the forgotten glance at oncoming traffic before a left turn. I drive semi-truck and trailer, tour bus, car and I am also a motorcyclist. I am a trained professional traffic instructor and I am ever mindful that statistics predict that if you or I die in traffic it will because of someone's forgetfulness or careless oversight. The probability is 84.7% that an injury collision will be caused by human factors.

Of all contributing factors assigned to collisions during 1999, 84.7% involved human action or condition; 13.6% were related to environmental conditions; 1.7% involved vehicle condition.

The top five most frequently reported contributing factors in 1999 personal injury collisions (as a percentage of total personal injury collisions) were, in order of magnitude:
    (1) Driving without due care (30.3%);
    (2) Failing to yield to the right of way (22.1%);
    (3) Unsafe speed (16.5%);
    (4) Alcohol involvement (11.8%);
    (5) Weather Condition (10.7%).

The top five most frequently reported contributing factors in 1999 fatal collisions (as a percentage of total fatal collisions) were, in order of magnitude:
    (1) Driving without due care (39.2%);
    (2) Unsafe speed (33.7%);
    (3) Alcohol involvement (24.6%);
    (4) Weather condition (12.2%);
    (5) Driving on Wrong Side of Road (9.7%).

Source TRAFFIC COLLISION STATISTICS

Police-attended Injury and Fatal Collisions British Columbia 1999-ICBC

Each year in Canada traffic collisions kill about 3,000 people, and maim tens of thousands more. Research argues that 2,550 of those deaths were avoidable, more so they we needless deaths, the product of forgetfulness, carelessness, haste and ignorance.

Knowledgeable sources estimate the cost to the Canadian economy exceeds 1 billion dollars. Then there are the social and emotional costs to the survivors.

Although fatalities have been on a slow decline over the years the number of injured has increased, credited in part to better emergency treatment and the increasing reliance on passive protection for motorists.

What amazes me is that we as a society accept this as the cost of having the freedom to drive. Every year we kill the equivalent of the population of the town of Chase or Enderby and describe the deaths as accident, something random and unavoidable. Nothing could be further from the truth! They are not accidents; they are collisions with a cause and effect. The causes are clearly defined in ICBC's consolidated collision statistics for 1999. 84.7% of identified contributing factors are either driver errors; either by doing something wrong, or not doing something they should have. [see sidebar]

On a more personal note, we will soon loose one of the most beautiful highways in the world, motivated in part to counteract the poor driving behavior of some drivers. The sea to sky highway has the reputation of being a "killer highway" when it is the misplaced expectations of the drivers who heighten the risk, resulting in carnage, instead of what should be a transcendent driving experience. I for one will bemoan the loss of a road with beauty and character in favor of a featureless, albeit error tolerant, interstate-like chute. I should mention that in one ski season I logged 197 round trips from Vancouver Airport to Whistler as a commercial bus driver and I still look forward to taking my sports car or motorcycle up to the Deli at Whistler Creekside for a late breakfast on Sunday morning, for me that is relaxation.

The good news is that we don't have to change the attitudes of every driver out there to lower our odds of being involved in a collision. The things that we can do to improve as drivers will also protect us from the errors of other drivers. What we do have to do is educate ourselves and then consistently apply methods that will reduce the risk. The goal is not to get there first, most of the time; it is to get there intact-all of the time! Getting there first deserves a reward only on the race track and if this is your goal-call me and I'll be happy to recommend all kinds of training to satisfy your need for speed-on the track. On the street, we need to look out for each other-as the sign says we need to drive defensively.

Drive defensively is not just a neat advertising slogan-it refers to the Defensive Driver Course™ a clearly defined, and recognizable course that teaches a set of skills that will reduce your risk of collision, in spite of the actions of others. For approximately the price of a tank of gas, and a little effort you can reduce your risk of collision by up to 85%.

Drivers 55 years and over face unique challenges and for them there is a specialized course available, 55 Alive, The Mature Driver Course™ that will refresh driving knowledge and address the considerations related specifically to the aging process.

These courses are offered on an ongoing basis at many locations around the lower mainland and throughout BC, and if you have group that wants a course, we will come to you. More information can found at www.safetycouncil.bc.ca or by calling 604-214-7433.

The writer holds a class 1 & 6 drivers license, is 18 years claims free and has taught traffic safety for the British Columbia Safety Council 9 years. He can be reached at 604-214-7433 loc 140 or at ian_thomas@safetycouncil.bc.ca. BC Safety Council is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization in the Province of British Columbia and has been working to reduce injury to B.C. citizens at work, home and on the road since 1945. [ed]