“In Canada during 2022, 294…

“In Canada during 2022, 294 pedestrians, 46 cyclists, 258 motorcyclists, 316 passengers, and 952 drivers died in collisions. There were 8,851 serious injuries from collisions, including pedestrians (15 per cent), cyclists (5 per cent), motorcyclists (13 per cent), passengers (17 per cent) and drivers (47 per cent). As of Oct. 9 this year in Toronto, 16 pedestrians, six cyclists, three motorcyclists and 10 motorists have been killed by traffic-related trauma. Every fatality is the loss of a person, someone who loved and was loved.

Among survivors, the horrific consequences of motor vehicles hitting pedestrians, cyclists and people in other vehicles are difficult to imagine. Brain injuries that fundamentally change personalities, memories and cognition; torn spinal cords that commit people to lifelong ventilatory support; scars from surgeries; post-traumatic stress disorder from both the trauma and the care required to help people survive. These patients spend weeks and months in hospital, and often never return to work or school.”