(Montreal) The annual report drawn up on Tuesday by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) in terms of road safety shows a deterioration of several data in 2022, not only compared to the previous year, but also in comparison with the averages calculated for 2017 to 2021.
For example, there were 266 fatal collisions last year, while there were 245 in 2021 and an average of 232 during the period from 2017 to 2021. In one year, the number of fatalities has d increased sharply, from 265 two years ago to 291 in 2022.
Police officers from the Sûreté du Québec have also observed a recurring phenomenon that worries them: nearly 30% of victims who died in road collisions were not wearing a seat belt.
Reckless driving and speeding were responsible for 32% of collisions last year, compared to 15% for driving impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue and 9% for inattention or distraction.
The report for 2022 reveals that the highest number of fatal collisions occurred in the Mauricie-Lanaudière region, with 45, followed by that of Estrie-Centre-du-Québec (41) and that of Outaouais-Laurentides (38).
Between 2021 and last year, the number of pedestrians who lost their lives in the territory served by the SQ rose from 30 to 36, while seven cyclists died in each of the two years.
On the other hand, the number of collisions involving at least one motorcycle fell from 53 two years ago to 43 last year.
The Sûreté du Québec regrets that human behavior is often involved in collisions with injuries or causing death.