Lack of restraint, substance use contributing factors in nearly a third of B.C. MVI fatalities, BC Coroners Service

Lack of restraint, substance use contributing factors in nearly a third of B.C. MVI fatalities, BC Coroners Service
CHEK

File photo.

File photo.

The BC Coroners Service (BCCS) notes many fatalities in motor vehicle incidents are preventable in latest data released Thursday.

The service says 34 per cent of deaths in B.C. between 2008 and 2016 found drugs and/or alcohol were involved.

The report also says 29 per cent of drivers and passengers that died in crashes between 2011 and 2016 were not using a restraint, defined as either a seat belt or child car-seat strap.

Less than half of all males that died in that time, 49 per cent, used a restraint, while 35 per cent did not and it’s unknown in 16 per cent of male deaths if a restraint was used.

The report shows 71 per cent of women killed in motor vehicle incidents did wear a restraint, compared to 18 per cent that did not and 11 per cent unknown.

The BCCS says there were 314 motor vehicle deaths in B.C. in 2018, and increase from the 299 recorded in 2017 but below the annual average of 326 over the past decade.

Forty-nine of the 314 motor vehicle deaths in the province last year were on Vancouver Island, third highest by health authority in B.C. behind the Interior (111) and Fraser (77) regions.

HIGHEST NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLISTS KILLED IN 2018

The BCCS also updated its motorcycle-involved fatality report and says there were 51 motorcyclists killed last year, the highest annual total for the past decade.

There were 34 motorcyclists killed in 2017 in B.C.

From 2009 to 2018, the majority of motorcyclists who died were male at 91 per cent.

Thirteen motorcyclists were killed on Vancouver Island in 2018.

More than 40 per cent of motorcyclist deaths in B.C. came on either Saturday or Sunday, and 56 per cent over summer months.

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