TRENDS * TENDANCES
Nuimber of traffc deaths pluinmets, experts say MDs can help trend continue
Patrick Sullivan crease in seat-belt usage means that, over a 20-year period, 300 lives will be saved and 9000 injuries prevented. In Quebec and Saskatchewan the usage rate reached 93% and 91% respectively, the highest rates every recorded in North America. Ontario had the second-lowest rate, 72%, and Prince Edward Island the lowest, 65%. Marchand said the CSC has set a goal of "95 in 95" - a 95% usage rate by 1995. He thinks doctors, especially family physicians, can help achieve that goal during office visits by giving patients "friendly reminders" that they should wear seat belts. "It is difficult to explain why seat-belt usage remains relatively low in Ontario when some of its neighbours are doing so well," he said. "The main reason is that Ontario has had no large-scale campaign to promote it. If there is no campaign police are pretty leery of trying to enforce the rules because they don't like stopping drivers who do not know the rules. If there is a major promotional campaign, then people will have no excuse and police will The CSC says each 1 % in- enforce the law." Marchand said other major reasons for the decline in traffic Patrick Sullivan is CMAJ news and fea- fatalities are tougher drinkingand-driving laws, improved autotures editor.
lthough the toll is still tragically high, news about traffic-related deaths in Canada is far from bleak. Last year marked the first time since 1962 that Canada had fewer than 4000 traffic-related deaths, and observers say physicians can help drive the number lower. Safety Canada, published by the Canada Safety Council (CSC), says there were 3936 traffic fatalities in Canada last year, 7.3% less than in 1989. "To give you an idea of how things have changed," said Raynald Marchand, manager of traffic safety at the CSC, "in 1973, the record year for deaths, there were 6706 traffic fatalities, and in every year from 1972 to 1975 there were more than 6000 deaths." Marchand attributes the huge drop - the death toll in 1990 was 59% lower than in 1973 - to several factors, but says increased seat-belt use is the main one. "In just the past year the national rate of seat-belt usage has increased from 73% to 82%," he told CMAJ. "In that 1 year we were up 9%, and the only province with no substantial increase was Ontario." A
AUGUST 1, 1991
mobile design and the recession. "Drinking and driving is no longer socially acceptable and it is not something you can joke about," he said. "And the recession is probably a factor because people do not drive as much during one. Every time there is a recession fatalities drop." Dr. Stephen Hart of Fredericton, NB, thinks seat belts are the main reason for the diminishing traffic toll. "We haven't seen a significant change as far as impaired driving goes," said Hart, one of organized medicine's leaders in its attempts to eliminate roadside carnage. "Years ago otherwise responsible people still used to drink and drive. They've stopped, but there are still the irresponsible people who continue to drink and drive. Probably 50% of those 4000 deaths last year were alcohol related." Hart urges doctors to mention seat belts and driving safety during routine medical checkups. "I know that when I see a baby at 4 or 6 weeks, I make a point of asking the mother whether she is using a car seat, that sort of thing. You should make it part of the routine questioning." The CSC says that if its "95 in 95" goal is reached, it could translate into 500 fewer traffic deaths and 15 000 fewer injuries each year.u CAN MED ASSOC J 1991; 145 (3)
249
Nuimber of traffc deaths pluinmets, experts say MDs can help trend continue
Patrick Sullivan crease in seat-belt usage means that, over a 20-year period, 300 lives will be saved and 9000 injuries prevented. In Quebec and Saskatchewan the usage rate reached 93% and 91% respectively, the highest rates every recorded in North America. Ontario had the second-lowest rate, 72%, and Prince Edward Island the lowest, 65%. Marchand said the CSC has set a goal of "95 in 95" - a 95% usage rate by 1995. He thinks doctors, especially family physicians, can help achieve that goal during office visits by giving patients "friendly reminders" that they should wear seat belts. "It is difficult to explain why seat-belt usage remains relatively low in Ontario when some of its neighbours are doing so well," he said. "The main reason is that Ontario has had no large-scale campaign to promote it. If there is no campaign police are pretty leery of trying to enforce the rules because they don't like stopping drivers who do not know the rules. If there is a major promotional campaign, then people will have no excuse and police will The CSC says each 1 % in- enforce the law." Marchand said other major reasons for the decline in traffic Patrick Sullivan is CMAJ news and fea- fatalities are tougher drinkingand-driving laws, improved autotures editor.
lthough the toll is still tragically high, news about traffic-related deaths in Canada is far from bleak. Last year marked the first time since 1962 that Canada had fewer than 4000 traffic-related deaths, and observers say physicians can help drive the number lower. Safety Canada, published by the Canada Safety Council (CSC), says there were 3936 traffic fatalities in Canada last year, 7.3% less than in 1989. "To give you an idea of how things have changed," said Raynald Marchand, manager of traffic safety at the CSC, "in 1973, the record year for deaths, there were 6706 traffic fatalities, and in every year from 1972 to 1975 there were more than 6000 deaths." Marchand attributes the huge drop - the death toll in 1990 was 59% lower than in 1973 - to several factors, but says increased seat-belt use is the main one. "In just the past year the national rate of seat-belt usage has increased from 73% to 82%," he told CMAJ. "In that 1 year we were up 9%, and the only province with no substantial increase was Ontario." A
AUGUST 1, 1991
mobile design and the recession. "Drinking and driving is no longer socially acceptable and it is not something you can joke about," he said. "And the recession is probably a factor because people do not drive as much during one. Every time there is a recession fatalities drop." Dr. Stephen Hart of Fredericton, NB, thinks seat belts are the main reason for the diminishing traffic toll. "We haven't seen a significant change as far as impaired driving goes," said Hart, one of organized medicine's leaders in its attempts to eliminate roadside carnage. "Years ago otherwise responsible people still used to drink and drive. They've stopped, but there are still the irresponsible people who continue to drink and drive. Probably 50% of those 4000 deaths last year were alcohol related." Hart urges doctors to mention seat belts and driving safety during routine medical checkups. "I know that when I see a baby at 4 or 6 weeks, I make a point of asking the mother whether she is using a car seat, that sort of thing. You should make it part of the routine questioning." The CSC says that if its "95 in 95" goal is reached, it could translate into 500 fewer traffic deaths and 15 000 fewer injuries each year.u CAN MED ASSOC J 1991; 145 (3)
249
