Ontario Road Safety Annual Report 2003

3. The Collision

Key statistics in this section include number of collisions by class, collision rate per kilometres travelled, breakdown of collisions by month, day of week and hour of occurrence, the nature of the impact, as well as a description of environmental conditions at time of occurrence.

While the total number of collisions increased in 2003, the fatal collision rate per one million kilometres travelled is one of the lowest rates over the last 15 years.

Figure 3 Fatal Collision Rate Per 100 Million Kilometres Travelled in Ontario, 1989-2003*

Data in table format * Since 2000, the Numbers of Vehicle Kilometres Travelled are based on Estimates from Statistics Canada.

3A. Types of Collisions

Table 3.1
Class of Collision 1988-2003

Year	Fatal Collision	Personal Injury	Property Damage	Total
1988	1,076	76,724	150,598	228,398
1989	1,106	77,852	168,080	247,038
1990	959	65,912	153,317	220,188
1991	956	59,242	153,471	213,669
1992	942	58,889	164,418	224,249
1993	987	58,932	168,915	228,834
1994	875	58,525	167,596	226,996
1995	860	58,273	159,952	219,085
1996	816	57,791	156,417	215,024
1997	807	56,121	164,572	221,500
1998	768	55,441	157,147	213,356
1999	763	55,764	165,435	221,962
2000	737	57,279	182,614	240,630
2001	733	54,479	178,792	234,004
2002	770	56,516	187,356	244,642
2003	754	52,757	192,952	246,463

Table 3.2
Collision Rate Per One Million Kilometres Travelled 1988-2003

Year	Collision Rate
1988	3.2
1989	3.2
1990	3.0
1991	2.9
1992	3.1
1993	3.0
1994	2.9
1995	2.8
1996	2.7
1997	2.7
1998	2.5
1999	2.5
2000	2.0*
2001	2.0*
2002	2.0*
2003	2.1*

*Based on Statistics Canada estimates of vehicle kilometres travelled

Table 3.3
Motor Vehicles Involved in Collisions Based on Initial Impact 2003

Collisions Involving Moveable Objects	Fatal Collision	Personal Injury	Property Damage	Total
Other Motor Vehicles	751	78,399	279,447	358,597
Unattended Vehicles	2	609	14,681	15,292
Pedestrian	112	4,377	262	4,751
Cyclist	12	2,519	527	3,058
Railway Train	2	26	29	57
Street Car	0	40	266	306
Farm Tractor	0	31	71	102
Domestic Animal	0	82	656	738
Wild Animal	4	510	13,321	13,835
Other Moveable Objects	3	50	247	300
Sub-total	886	86,643	309,507	397,036

Collisions Involving Fixed Objects	Fatal Collision	Personal Injury	Property Damage	Total
Cable Guide Rail	2	60	366	428
Concrete Guide Rail	2	313	1,037	1,352
Steel Guide Rail	5	205	917	1,127
Pole (Utility Tower)	8	328	1,375	1,711
Pole (Sign/Parking Meter)	0	115	826	941
Fence/Noise Barrier	0	21	201	222
Culvert	0	20	34	54
Bridge Support	3	31	105	139
Rock Face	0	15	31	46
Snow Bank or Drift	0	57	260	317
Ditch	7	292	823	1,122
Curb	9	465	1,628	2,102
Crash Cushion	0	20	55	75
Building or Wall	0	35	199	234
Water Course	1	0	12	13
Construction Marker	1	7	41	49
Tree, Shrub, or Stump	3	110	458	571
Other Fixed Object	3	260	1,607	1,870
Sub-total	44	2,354	9,975	12,373

Collisions Involving Other Events	Fatal Collision	Personal Injury	Property Damage	Total
Ran Off Road	133	3,515	8,790	12,438
Skidding/Sliding	157	5,459	18,464	24,080
Jack-knifing	3	25	132	160
Load Spill	0	13	103	116
Fire/Explosion	0	3	305	308
Submersion	0	3	8	11
Rollover	4	253	329	586
Debris on Road	3	99	904	1,006
Debris off Vehicle	5	141	1,372	1,518
Other Non-Collision Event	32	1,336	4,182	5,550
Sub-total	337	10,847	34,589	45,773
Total	1,267	99,844	354,071	455,182

Table 3.4
Initial Impact Type by Class of Collision 2003

Initial Impact Type	Fatal Collision	Personal Injury	Property Damage	Total
Approaching	146	1,694	3,187	5,027
Angle	85	7,247	18,226	25,558
Rear End	36	14,853	48,480	63,369
Sideswipe	44	3,961	28,000	32,005
Turning Movement	58	8,750	28,591	37,399
With Unattended Motor Vehicle	3	660	14,952	15,615
Single Motor Vehicle	382	15,488	49,761	65,631
Other	0	104	1,755	1,859
Unknown	0	0	0	0
Total	754	52,757	192,952	246,463

3B. Time and Environment

Table 3.5
Month of Occurrence by Class of Collision 2003

Month of Occurrence	Fatal Collision	%	Personal Injury	%	Property Damage	%	Total	%
January	66	8.8	5,580	10.6	23,873	12.4	29,519	12.0
February	36	4.8	4,310	8.2	18,100	9.4	22,446	9.1
March	46	6.1	3,702	7.0	14,853	7.7	18,601	7.5
April	62	8.2	3,731	7.1	14,342	7.4	18,135	7.4
May	65	8.6	4,074	7.7	13,131	6.8	17,270	7.0
June	67	8.9	4,535	8.6	14,124	7.3	18,726	7.6
July	79	10.5	4,428	8.4	13,513	7.0	18,020	7.3
August	69	9.2	4,451	8.4	13,010	6.7	17,530	7.1
September	68	9.0	4,499	8.5	13,829	7.2	18,396	7.5
October	75	9.9	4,459	8.5	16,069	8.3	20,603	8.4
November	60	8.0	4,492	8.5	18,736	9.7	23,288	9.4
December	61	8.1	4,496	8.5	19,372	10.0	23,929	9.7
Total	754	100.0	52,757	100.0	192,952	100.0	246,463	100.0

Table 3.6
Day of Week by Class of Collision 2003

Day of Occurrence	Fatal Collision	%	Personal Injury	%	Property Damage	%	Total	%
Monday	102	13.5	7,676	14.5	28,615	14.8	36,393	14.8
Tuesday	93	12.3	7,782	14.8	29,194	15.1	37,069	15.0
Wednesday	107	14.2	7,393	14.0	27,524	14.3	35,024	14.2
Thursday	90	11.9	7,915	15.0	29,245	15.2	37,250	15.1
Friday	121	16.0	8,799	16.7	32,742	17.0	41,662	16.9
Saturday	118	15.6	7,092	13.4	25,241	13.1	32,451	13.2
Sunday	123	16.3	6,100	11.6	20,391	10.6	26,614	10.8
Total	754	100.0	52,757	100.0	192,952	100.0	246,463	100.0

Table 3.7
Hour of Occurrence by Class of Collision 2003

Hour of Occurrence A.M.	Fatal Collision	%	Personal Injury	%	Property Damage	%	Total	%
12 to 1 a.m.	22	2.9	748	1.4	2,840	1.5	3,610	1.5
1 to 2 a.m.	20	2.7	686	1.3	2,850	1.5	3,556	1.4
2 to 3 a.m.	27	3.6	725	1.4	2,687	1.4	3,439	1.4
3 to 4 a.m.	21	2.8	649	1.2	2,392	1.2	3,062	1.2
4 to 5 a.m.	14	1.9	409	0.8	1,811	0.9	2,234	0.9
5 to 6 a.m.	20	2.7	525	1.0	2,369	1.2	2,914	1.2
Sub-total	124	16.4	3,742	7.1	14,949	7.7	18,815	7.6
6 to 7 a.m.	31	4.1	1,316	2.5	5,264	2.7	6,611	2.7
7 to 8 a.m.	26	3.4	2,076	3.9	8,605	4.5	10,707	4.3
8 to 9 a.m.	32	4.2	3,286	6.2	12,969	6.7	16,287	6.6
9 to 10 a.m.	29	3.8	2,399	4.5	9,671	5.0	12,099	4.9
10 to 11 a.m.	36	4.8	2,365	4.5	9,029	4.7	11,430	4.6
11 to 12 noon	27	3.6	2,858	5.4	9,987	5.2	12,872	5.2
Sub-total	181	24.0	14,300	27.1	55,525	28.8	70,006	28.4

Hour of Occurrence P.M.	Fatal Collision	%	Personal Injury	%	Property Damage	%	Total	%
12 to 1 p.m.	33	4.4	3,247	6.2	11,205	5.8	14,485	5.9
1 to 2 p.m.	43	5.7	3,073	5.8	10,596	5.5	13,712	5.6
2 to 3 p.m.	36	4.8	3,394	6.4	11,391	5.9	14,821	6.0
3 to 4 p.m.	53	7.0	4,306	8.2	14,323	7.4	18,682	7.6
4 to 5 p.m.	42	5.6	4,248	8.1	14,716	7.6	19,006	7.7
5 to 6 p.m.	43	5.7	4,116	7.8	15,075	7.8	19,234	7.8
Sub-total	250	33.2	22,384	42.4	77,306	40.1	99,940	40.5
6 to 7 p.m.	33	4.4	3,356	6.4	11,650	6.0	15,039	6.1
7 to 8 p.m.	42	5.6	2,448	4.6	8,617	4.5	11,107	4.5
8 to 9 p.m.	24	3.2	1,886	3.6	6,720	3.5	8,630	3.5
9 to 10 p.m.	41	5.4	1,712	3.2	6,541	3.4	8,294	3.4
10 to 11 p.m.	39	5.2	1,483	2.8	5,229	2.7	6,751	2.7
11 to 12 midnight	18	2.4	1,157	2.2	4,337	2.2	5,512	2.2
Sub-total	197	26.1	12,042	22.8	43,094	22.3	55,333	22.5
Unknown	2	0.3	289	0.5	2,078	1.1	2,369	1.0
Total	754	100.0	52,757	100.0	192,952	100.0	246,463	100.0

Table 3.8
Statutory Holidays, Holiday Weekends - Fatal Collisions, Persons Killed and Injured 2003

Statutory Holiday*	Number of Fatal Collisions	Drivers Killed	Drivers Injured	Passengers Killed	Passengers Injured	Others Killed	Others Injured	Total Killed	Total Injured
Easter Weekend	8	6	2	0	1	2	0	8	3
Victoria Day	9	6	3	1	6	2	2	9	11
Canada Day	10	5	6	2	13	4	2	11	21
Civic Holiday (Simcoe Day)	6	4	1	3	4	0	0	7	5
Labour Day	8	5	7	4	12	0	0	9	19
Thanksgiving Day	6	3	4	2	1	1	0	6	5
Christmas/Boxing Day	5	3	3	2	0	0	0	5	3

*Actual length may vary depending on the calendar year. For certain holidays, it might include the whole weekend.

Table 3.12
Road Jurisdiction for All Collisions 1994-2003

Road Jurisdiction*	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	Total	[%]
Municipal	117,478	114,848	112,980	123,423	123,112	126,063	136,499	143,951	149,533	149,310	1,297,197	56.8
Provincial	48,895	46,365	46,867	41,947	33,590	37,139	38,366	36,511	39,579	42,518	411,777	18.0
Township	10,497	9,774	9,236	9,557	8,696	8,672	9,844	8,678	9,602	9,146	93,702	4.1
County or District	8,839	8,815	8,381	9,574	11,114	11,217	12,847	12,692	13,773	14,200	111,452	4.9
Regional Municipality	40,165	38,279	36,738	36,341	36,295	38,360	42,464	31,659	31,628	30,731	362,660	15.9
Federal**	825	753	662	504	392	400	439	354	425	423	5,177	0.2
Other	297	251	160	154	157	111	171	159	102	135	1,697	0.1
Total	226,996	219,085	215,024	221,500	213,356	221,962	240,630	234,004	244,642	246,463	2,283,662	100.0

*Collisions may not be comaparable across the different years due to transfer of highways between jurisdictions.
**Since January 1, 1988 the Motor Vehicle Accident Report form allows the recording of jurisdiction for federal roads.