The following is an observation from Rod LaRocque, President, Local Insurance Brokers - thoughts and remedies that hopefully reduce the number of winter accidents on our roads here in the future.
From the months of November – February, automobile accident statistics support a 50 per cent increase in the number of collisions on Canadian roadways. Winter weather is the major contributing factor; however, there are other factors that need to be taken into consideration. Most important: the level of custodian and snow services provided by the regional, provincial and federal governments.
Speaking with friends and colleagues, there is a wholesale consensus that a remarkable decline is occurring in both the response time and level of snow removal services provided by the governing bodies and is contributing to a negative end-result. In addition to this, the number of drivers and vehicles on the road are increasing and the medical cost as a result of automobile accidents remains in the billions of dollars annually.
It is important to note that this opinion does not reflect the job of our snow removal drivers and the police who govern the roadways. It is directed at the decision makers involved in setting, allocating equipment and how they govern the snow removal budget and burn rate. It is also directed at those responsible for setting the guidelines for what are considered safe and acceptable criteria for the public users.
While we have been exposed to heavy snow cycles the past couple of years - that cannot be an excuse for a reduction in service or public safety. A better plan and way to pay for it is the answer along with keeping the road users more informed and educated on what they can do to remain safe. (continued.)
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We can assign a value to the cost of winter accidents in Canada. The statistics are readily available to the public from Transport Canada and organizations like the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction among others. With this information we can establish a bench mark on what accidents are currently costing the taxpayer. From this platform we can implement an education strategy on driving conditions, speed, equipment, vehicle information sharing and situational awareness. We can then monitor the annual incident reduction and savings can be reinvested into things like snow removal and pay for operator education. What we need is a driver ad campaign or education seminars that reinforce the message on factors that cause weather related accidents.
Too many operators are driving vehicles with no situational awareness or understanding of the impact and consequences of taking things too lightly in making a mistake. Many have become immune to weather and how it can affect their own safety and that of others. The same holds true with overpowered ATV’s and some parents putting 1000cc snowmobiles in the hands of a teenager. They may as well give the teen a loaded handgun to play with!
In my field, along with the medical profession, we get to deal with the end result of things gone wrong. It really is a sad emotional experience. The reality is – in many cases an accident could have been prevented. Once a heart stops beating – or someone loses a limb or mobility for life – it’s too late! No one can assign a price or value on the trauma and emotional impact of the victim or families involved.
In addition to education and road conditions there are other contributing factors that need to be taken into consideration. Most important the marketing around the sale of cars and winter tires and the false sense of security created through advertising that the products are the end all of winter road user concerns. Many operators are driving with a false confidence that they and their vehicles are invincible to all driving conditions. That too is becoming more evident as we see more and more operators driving at speeds that far exceed the roadway conditions. How many times have you seen someone fly by you on a snow packed road? It’s also not uncommon to hear someone say – “I have eight airbags and the best ice tires money can buy.” The reality is, that false sense of security and type of confidence places all road users at risk! (continued.)
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It is clear that the automobiles we drive today and those that use winter tires have a better chance of navigating and adapting to winter conditions; however, the statistics with respect to the number of injuries and fatalities remains too high when we have heavy snow cycles, rain or extreme cold. A better plan and approach to the issue at hand is in order. That includes better response times and better planning in snow or ice conditions and most important ‘increasing’ the budget for addressing the problem.
While some can argue that the research involved in making decisions that facilitate the service level of road clearing supports the current budget; it is important to note the proprietary nature of the research involved, who paid for it and what it is being used for. Research and analytics provide a platform for creating solutions based on past experience; however, this is nothing better than real time information being made available, or looking out the window.
In aviation, flight planning is based on all information made available. There is much more at a pilot’s disposal than an automobile operator. Flights are planned on information made available from on-route reporting stations along with pilot reports from aircraft that recently travelled a particular route. Today’s vehicles have the ability to collect a lot of information. Sharing that information with other vehicles is an opportunity to contribute in decision making and provide a safer trip. The technology already exists and if there is enough lobbying at government levels to share real-time information, it can saves lives and reduce accidents. We can start with transport trucks and coordinating an on-line feed to each vehicle on a particular route via the vehicle GPS, telematics or radio. If information were made available to vehicle operators in real time it contributes to better odds of collision avoidance and allows operators to plan and make more informed decisions.
In conclusion, as I shared there are several factors that contribute to the current number of winter automobile collisions; however, many are preventable and I hope I provided some thought-provoking remedies that can be shared with friends, family and our elected local, provincial and federal government representatives.
Safe driving!
- Rod LaRocque, President, Local Insurance Brokers, Sudbury, Ont.
