IIHS: U.S. road deaths increase, while Canada’s decrease from stronger safety laws and cameras
A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Canada’s Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has found that stronger distracted driving and seatbelt laws, along with widespread use of speed safety cameras, have helped Canada reduce road fatalities, while the U.S. falters.
A news release on the study notes that between 2011 and 2021, the number of annual road fatalities in the U.S. increased by 33%, from 32,479 to 43,230, while in Canada, road fatalities declined 18% from 2,166 to 1,776.
“The U.S. could learn a lot from our northern neighbor,” said IIHS President David Harkey in the release. “Our countries are culturally very similar, so there is reason to believe that many policies that work there could help the U.S. get back on the right track when it comes to road safety.”
Canada saw a reduction in roadway deaths despite the nation’s population, number of licensed drivers, and miles driven increasing at a greater pace than in the U.S., the study found.
“The researchers found that specific crash types that were associated with the biggest fatality increases in the U.S. were the same types that went down by large percentages in Canada,” the release says.
Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities rose 64% in the U.S. but fell 17% in Canada. Fatalities involving large trucks increased 54% in the U.S. and decreased 24% in Canada. It also found that crash deaths involving young drivers fell by 52% in Canada and climbed 17% in the U.S. Deaths involving alcohol impairment and speed also went up in the U.S. and down in Canada.
“While many U.S. states also have strong laws on seatbelts and distracted driving and laws allowing speed safety cameras, such policies covered a larger share of the Canadian population than the U.S. population over the 2011-21 study period,” the release says. “Fatalities would have been lower in the U.S. if these laws were as widespread as they were in Canada, the authors concluded. However, even with those laws, fatalities still would have risen, so other types of policies are also needed.”
The study focused specifically on driver distraction, seatbelt, and speed safety camera laws because the information was consistently available, the release says.
Several factors not included in the study may have contributed to diverging trends, including differences in laws regarding impaired driving. The release says that in the majority of U.S. states, there are no penalties for most drivers if they are stopped with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between 0.05% and 0.08%. All Canadian provinces, except Quebec, have administrative penalties at low BACs. Police can also demand a roadside breath test regardless of whether there is suspicion of impairment, and refusing a test is a criminal offense in Canada.
“This study demonstrates the real-world potential impact of evidence-based policies in terms of lives saved. Thoughtful implementation combined with stakeholder consultation are critical elements of success,” said Craig Lyon, director of road safety engineering at TIRF and the new paper’s lead author. “Equally important, public education and transparency with respect to implementation are necessary to combat misinformation and establish widespread support.”
IIHS also recently announced its 30X30 vision to reduce U.S. road fatalities by 30% by 2030. The initiative aims to bring all stakeholders invested in road safety together to tackle road fatality solutions. This includes researchers, advocacy groups, policymakers, vehicle manufacturers, fleet managers, transportation engineers, health and safety officials, law enforcement, insurers, and concerned individuals.
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