Each year, nearly one percent of Canadians is injured in traffic accidents. This paper focuses on the nature of road transportation risks in Canada - the magnitude of the problem and the reasons for its persistence. A mobility-based approach to road safety research is advocated because of its potential to both improve understanding and help work towards long-term solutions. The discussion is organised around two main themes: risks of mobility and mobility-related risks. In the first instance, the focus is on linkages between quantity of travel/exposure and safety, especially over time. In the second theme, the emphasis is on linkages between quality of exposure and safety. Specific themes, including weather hazards and graduated licensing, are used to develop the second theme. The main conclusion is that casualty rates per unit of travel have declined over the past 25 years, largely due to improved engineering, enforcement and education, but that casualty levels and monetary costs remain high, largely because of the auto-mobility imperative. (A)
Abstract