Bas-Saint-Laurent has one of the worst road tolls in Quebec. As part of a study spanning four years, the Public Health Department identified 236 fatal accidents or accidents causing serious injuries.
Among the cases identified, the statistics presented by its director, Dr. Sylvain Leduc, demonstrate that men are the main victims of road accidents, since they account for 74.1% of deaths and 66.1% of hospitalizations at the following a road accident even though they represent 50.1% of the region’s population.
Young people aged 16 to 21 are also one of the groups most at risk of accidents, accounting for 10.3% of deaths and 9.2% of hospitalizations caused by road trauma. They account for 5.5% of the population.
Sylvain Leduc also explains that nearly two thirds of serious or fatal accidents occurred outside the region’s main roads.
“We traditionally have a road record that is not favorable. It was like that 40 years ago. Everyone who lives in Bas-Saint-Laurent suspects that accidents are more frequent. They occur everywhere, not just on the 20 or the 132. We have the same population as 20 years ago and we have 33% more cars. We have 138,000 cars for individual use for 200,000 inhabitants. We need means to promote collective transportation.”
The 20 will not improve the balance sheet
Dr. Leduc advises the population to be extra careful on the roads this summer since the months of July and August are the deadliest. The announced extension of Highway 20 between Notre-Dame-des-Neiges and Rimouski will not improve the road toll, however.
“It depends on which 20!” Many passing lanes are shared. The two paths meet. There are dangerous places on the 20. This is not a solution,” believes Sylvain Leduc.
With the help of Julian Azzari
FLO 96.5 News
