New Brunswick Traffic Fatalities on the Rise: What the 2024 RCMP Report Means for Road Safety

Matthew Pearn | December 22, 2025 

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The latest data from the New Brunswick RCMP has sent a sobering message to motorists across the province. The 2024 Annual Report, released in November 2025, confirms a troubling trend: traffic fatalities in RCMP-patrolled areas have spiked by nearly 20% compared to the previous year.

While the province has introduced stricter penalties to curb dangerous driving, the numbers suggest that driver behaviour, specifically impairment and lack of seatbelt use, remains a significant threat to public safety.

Breaking Down the 2024 Statistics

In 2024, the RCMP responded to a total of 6,460 vehicle collisions. While many resulted in property damage, the cost of life in these incidents has reached a multi-year high.

Key Finding from the Report:

• Total Fatalities: 96 fatal motor vehicle collisions (an 18.5% increase from 2023)

• Preventable Factors: A staggering 66.7% of fatal crashes involved either driver impairment or a failure to wear a seatbelt.

• Unharnessed Victims: 41 fatalities occurred where occupants were not wearing seatbelts.

• Impairment: 24 fatalities involved alcohol or drug impairment.

• Vulnerable Road Users: The report noted 11 fatal pedestrian or cyclist collisions and 8 fatal motorcycle crashes.
  

Off-Road Accidents: There were 14 fatal off-road vehicle (ORV) collisions, highlighting that the safety concerns extend well beyond paved highways.

Stricter Laws: The New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act

The rise in fatalities comes despite recent legislative efforts aimed at making New Brunswick roads safer. In June 2023, the province updated the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act, introducing significant penalties for excessive speeding and dangerous driving with a clear goal in mind: deterrence.

Speed (Over Limit)	Vehicle Impoundment	Fine Amount	Demerit Points
50-80 km/h over	7 Days	$500	5 Points
80+ km/h over	30 Days	$1,000	6 Points

The RCMP has matched these legislative changes with increased levels of boots-on-the-ground (or wheels-on-the-road) enforcement. In 2024 alone, officers conducted 1,017 checkstops, inspected nearly 28,000 vehicles and issued 16,464 tickets.

The Four Pillars of Road Safety

As we head into the winter months—traditionally the most dangerous time of year for New Brunswick drivers—these numbers serve as a timely warning. The RCMP’s report proves that, even with 388 roadside suspensions and thousands of inspections, the responsibility for safety rests behind the wheel.

According to the RCMP, the vast majority of these tragedies are preventable, and the consequences are rarely limited to a ticket or a fine. To protect yourself and your family, the Four Pillars of Safe Driving remain the most effective defence:

• Buckle up: Seatbelts are the simplest and most effective way to save your life in a crash.

• Drive Sober: With 24 deaths linked to impairment, the risk of drugs and alcohol cannot be overstated.

• Follow the Speed Limit: High speeds reduce reaction time and increase the force of impact.

• Put Down Your Phone: Distracted driving remains a leading factor in injury-causing collisions.

You’ve Been in an Accident: What Happens Next?

The moments and weeks following a motor vehicle accident (MVA) are often a blur, from the incident itself to the series of medical appointments and insurance calls. At Whitehead, Miles and Allen LLP, we frequently hear from clients in two stages: immediately after the crash, or several weeks later, once the initial shock has subsided.

Regardless of your timeline, the goal remains the same: to preserve your rights and secure the resources you need to heal.

1. The Card: Your Most Important Document

At the scene of the accident, a police officer will often provide you with a small card. This is the key to your claim. It contains:

• Date, time, and the exact location of the collision.

• Names and contact details of other drivers.

• Vehicle details (make, model and license plate).

• Insurance provider and policy numbers.

  
  

  

  Keep this card. It allows us to immediately put the other driver’s insurer on notice and open a claim for your benefit.

2. Understanding Your Own Coverage (Section B and Section D)

Even if you weren’t at fault, your own insurance policy plays a vital role in your recovery.

• Section B Coverage: This helps cover medical expenses and income replacement regardless of who caused the accident

• Section D & SEF 44/NBEF 44 (Family Protection Endorsement): If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, your own policy can step in to ensure you are not left carrying the financial burden of their negligence.

Your Initial Consultation: A Checklist

To help our legal team advise you fully during our first meeting, we recommend gathering as much information as possible. If you can email these items ahead of time, it allows us to hit the ground running.

What to Bring to Your Meeting:

• Accident Details: The police report or “card,” any evidence from the scene/injury photos from your phone, and contact details for any witnesses.

• Medical Records: Any bills or documentation related to your treatment and recovery, along with a list of doctors and other health care providers you’ve seen since the accident.

• Insurance Info: Details for both your policy and the other party’s, and any correspondence you’ve had with either insurer.

• Proof of Economic Loss: Pay stubs, T4s, or Records of Employment to document lost wages.

• Identification: Government-issued ID, your Medicare card, and any private insurance cards (e.g., Blue Cross).

When you meet with us, we encourage you to be candid about everything that happened. Even small details can be crucial. 

Authorization and Fees:

When we take on your case, we handle the “heavy lifting” of evidence collection. To do this, we will ask you to sign:

• Authorization and Release Forms: These allow us to communicate with doctors, employers, and insurers on your behalf.

• Contingency Fee Agreement (CFA): This ensures that you face no upfront legal fees. Our fees are a pre-agreed percentage of your final settlement. If we don’t win, you don’t pay legal fees.
  

How Whitehead, Miles and Allen LLP Can Help

A traffic collision is a life-threatening event. Beyond the immediate physical pain, victims and their families are often left navigating complex insurance claims, medical bills, and loss of income.

If you find yourself injured due to another driver’s negligence or inattention, or if you or a family member are dealing with the aftermath of a fatal accident involving a loved one, you do not have to navigate these legal paths alone. 

Our team at Whitehead, Miles and Allen LLP know how to help you through this difficult moment and how to preserve your rights to pursue a financial recovery against the at-fault driver. Contact us today for a professional consultation to discuss your legal options and protect your future.