Image: Submitted/RCMP
The Nova Scotia RCMP responded to 77 fatal vehicle collisions and crashes in 2024, marking a significant increase from previous years. The number of serious injury collisions also rose, with 180 incidents reported across the province.
Sgt. John White, who leads the RCMP’s Collision and Reconstruction Section, highlighted the concerning trend. “2024 saw a significant increase in fatal collisions and crashes on our roadways, with multiple drivers and passengers losing their lives,” he stated.
The RCMP identified impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving (primarily speeding), and failure to use seatbelts as the primary causes of these incidents. Sgt. White emphasized the importance of seatbelt use, noting that many fatalities could have been prevented if occupants had been properly restrained. “The physics involved in a motor vehicle collision are extreme. When people don’t have a seatbelt on, they’re often ejected from their vehicles and don’t survive,” he explained.
Between 2020 and 2023, the average number of fatal incidents on roads policed by the RCMP was 52, making 2024’s figures particularly alarming.
The RCMP is urging all motorists to take safety measures seriously, particularly the use of seatbelts, which they describe as the simplest and most effective way to save lives in the event of a collision.
