Traffic Safety is a priority in B Division

The RCMP Commanding Officer has identified Traffic Safety as a provincial priority. In response to this, each of the 11 RCMP Districts across the province has a meaningful traffic plan in place. These plans are aligned with RSV 2010, the national traffic safety program adopted by the Force in 2001. This program aims to reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roadways by 30% by the year 2010 and to do so by targeting specific high risk driving behaviours.

The “B” Division Traffic Services Program consists of 30 officers who are dedicated to addressing road safety issues which are resulting in death and injury on our highways. These officers work hand in hand with the officers posted to local detachments to ensure that a consistent educational and enforcement message is promoted all across the province. RCMP Traffic Services members are posted to a variety of locations across the Province, including in Labrador. These officers specialize in the delivery of the traffic services program with many officers specially trained in the investigation of alcohol and drug impaired drivers, the technical investigation of vehicle collision scenes, and many other skill sets which are necessary to deliver a modern and effective traffic services program.

RCMP Traffic Services has conducted significant research into the collisions which have resulted in death and injury in this province and have gone back to 1996 data in search of recent trends and other information which would assist in tackling this serious issue. We have determined that between 1996 and 2001, Newfoundland and Labrador was averaging 32 fatalities and 129 serious injuries on our roadways each year. We also determined that during that same period this province averaged 6 alcohol related highway deaths and 19 alcohol related serious injuries annually. As well, there were an average of 10 people killed and over 31 people seriously injured annually, who were not wearing their seatbelt. These are two traffic safety issues that are already regulated by Provincial or Criminal Statute. With this information in hand we set about developing education strategies related to these concerns, but at the same time began strictly enforcing the existing legislation in an effort to increase compliance and to improve public safety on the highways of the province.

Since the implementation of this problem solving methodology in 2001, the RCMP has seen an overall reduction of 24% in the total number of deaths and serious injuries. The most significant reduction has been in the serious injury category. Seatbelt non-compliance (Transport Canada recently announced the wear rate for Newfoundland and Labrador was 86%) and impaired driving continue to be the most significant contributing factors in both fatal and serious injury collisions. We will continue our efforts to address these factors, and others, as we work toward our Road Safety Vision for Newfoundland and Labrador, which is to have the safest roads in the world.