Although the toll of road deaths and injuries generally improved in Quebec in 2023, the situation has already deteriorated since then, indicates the Sûreté du Québec.
The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec published its road report for the year 2023 on Monday. It reports that 380 deaths were recorded in 2023, compared to 398 in 2022, 346 in 2021 and 339 in 2020. This therefore represents an improvement in the road safety record compared to the previous year.
There is also a decrease in the number of people with serious injuries and the number of people with minor injuries in 2023 compared to 2022.
However, we already know that since the start of 2024, the road toll has deteriorated again.
Francis Bernardin, head of the road safety service at the Sûreté du Québec, indicated Monday, during the launch of Road Worker Safety Awareness Week, that “despite the occasional improvement in the results observed in 2023, we are currently seeing a overall deterioration of the road toll since the start of 2024.”
“As of June 3, 93 fatal collisions had been recorded in the territory served by the Sûreté du Québec, which represents an increase of more than 35% compared to the average of the last five years,” added Mr. Bernardin . And that’s without counting territories other than those covered by the SQ.
Details of the 2023 report
The generally favorable results for 2023 compared to 2022 hide a more worrying situation among young people aged 15 to 24, who recorded a greater number of deaths.
Thus, Quebec recorded 59 deaths of young people aged 15 to 24 in 2023, compared to 49 in 2022, 45 in 2021 and 40 in 2020.
“However, the increase in the number of deaths among 15 to 24 year olds is worrying. We will continue our awareness-raising actions among this clientele,” commented the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, in a press release.
Likewise, Quebec also recorded 63 pedestrian deaths, compared to 82 in 2022, 55 in 2021 and 53 in 2020.
Also, there were 10 cyclist deaths in 2023, 12 in 2022 and 16 in 2021.
“The improvement in the road safety record is proof that awareness, combined with police control and strengthening of legislation, brings about a change in behavior among the Quebec population,” commented Éric Ducharme, president and CEO of the SAAQ.