Fewer Canadians are dying or suffering injuries in car collisions, according to new figures released by Transport Canada Wednesday.

In 2008, the most recent year that figures are available, 2,419 people died in car crashes across Canada, down from 2,761 in 2007 -- a 12-per-cent reduction.

The 2008 number is the lowest death toll on Canadian roads in almost 60 years.

Ontario had the lowest fatality rate of all provinces and territories -- 4.8 per 100,000 people. Yukon had the highest overall at 24.1. When the territories were excluded, Saskatchewan had the worst fatality rate at 15.4.

Of the people who died in 2008 accidents:

  • 54 per cent were drivers
  • 20 per cent were passengers
  • 12 per cent were pedestrians
  • 9 per cent were motorcyclists
  • 1.7 per cent were bicyclists

There was a significant urban-rural divide in the fatalities. While 701 people died in urban accidents, 1,450 died in rural accidents.

However, 87,179 people were injured in urban accidents compared to 38,079 in rural areas, suggesting access to close emergency healthcare may be a factor.

The fatalities are also broken down by age, with the most deaths occurring in the 65-and-up category, with 409 fatalities.

In comparison, there were 258 fatalities involving those aged 15-19, and 369 aged 25-34.

The government says the decline of deaths puts Canada in the position to achieve its goal of reducing road fatalities by 30 per cent from the 1996-to-2001 rate.

"Our government is committed to improving road safety and we have introduced important measures to reach that goal," Transport Minister Chuck Strahl said in a statement.

"The decline in deaths from road collisions is very encouraging, but the number of people affected is still too high. Everyone has a role to play for improving road safety. Canadians can take simple actions and decisions to make our roads safer."

Transport Canada is confident the decline will continue as new laws, such as mandating electronic stability control (ESC) in all vehicles, come into effect.

ESC becomes mandatory for all new vehicles in September.