Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise in the House today to inform Members that next week, December 1st to 7th , is National
Safe Driving Week across Canada. The first week of December is designated annually as a time to recognize and acknowledge the need to drive safely over the coming holiday season and throughout the entire year. It is also a time to reflect on the progress we have made on improving driver safety here in the Northwest Territories.
The Government of the Northwest Territories has accomplished much to improve the safety of the travelling public. These included the reconstruction of road surfaces, the Strategy to Reduce Impaired Driving Initiative and other awareness campaigns related to bison collisions and snowmobile safety, to name but a few. These have all contributed to dramatic reductions in collisions over the past few years. According to the 2006 Traffic Collision Facts Report, which will soon be released, collisions in 2006 were reduced by 16.8 percent over the previous year. Collisions involving alcohol were reduced by 15.7 percent and, as a result of factors such as the increased use of seatbelts and helmets, collisions resulting in injuries were reduced by 40.4 percent from the previous year.
However, Mr. Speaker, much more can, and must, be done to improve driver safety in the NWT. While collision numbers are down, many of the collisions that did occur could have been prevented. Everyone can take steps to reduce their risk of collision, injury, and death on the highways, trails and frozen waterways of the Northwest Territories.
To help improve driver safety, I am very proud to announce that the department is launching a new consolidated road safety campaign called Drive Alive!
This initiative will maximize the effectiveness of each driver safety program in the NWT by reinforcing common key safety messages. Drive Alive! will serve as a "brand" to reinforce the public information component of the Department of Transportation's road safety framework.
Drive Alive! aims to inform the public of ways in which they can improve their own safety through clear, coordinated, and concise safety messages which will help raise public awareness of road safety issues. The Drive Alive! initiative will promote partnerships and collaborations to increase the scope and effectiveness of road safety campaigns and to leverage additional resources.
Mr. Speaker, in a sparsely populated region such as the Northwest Territories, where distances are great and the environment is harsh, driver safety is an essential element for survival. While I'm confident that all the Members here today drive with caution, I'll use this opportunity to reinforce some of the key messages of Drive Alive!:
Reduce speed, and drive according to conditions;
Prepare for the unexpected;
Maintain and use safety equipment, particularly helmets and seatbelts; and
Driving deserves your full attention; do not drive while impaired, while talking on a cell phone and minimize driver distractions.
Mr. Speaker, I invite and encourage Members of this Assembly and the public to use this special week as an opportunity to learn more about safe driving. In the coming week, I will make some additional announcements to kick off Drive Alive! These will be the first of many planned throughout the year.
I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. I encourage Members and all motorists to keep their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their minds on driving safely. Mahsi cho.