RCMP Collision Reconstructionist says fatal accidents on NL highways this year on par with the last two

The number of deaths so far this year has gone up slightly; in 2022 there were 20, in 2023 there were 21 and so far there have been 24 so far this year, which could mean two people in a vehicle passed.

A Collision Reconstructionist with the RCMP says so far, stats for fatal accidents on our province’s highways are in line with numbers over the past couple of years.  Cpl Dave Bourden says in 2022 up until this date, there were 19 fatal incidents and in 2023 there were 19 and this year to date there have been 20. He says the number of deaths so far this year has gone up slightly; in 2022 there were 20, in 2023 there were 21 and so far there have been 24 so far this year, which could mean two people in a vehicle passed. The RCMP is a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Bourden says members deal with what they call the “ six d’s of driving patterns. This includes distracted, drowsy, detached or not wearing a seatbelt, dangerous, drunk, and drugs. Bourden says so far this year, 27 percent of fatal motor vehicle accidents were speed related, 22 percent are related to distracted driving, and 13 percent are related to impaired driving. He says two thirds, or 65 percent of fatal collisions this year involved people not wearing their seatbelts. Bourden says police follow the three e’s which are enforcement, education and engineering, which involves identifying roads with traffic issues.