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TRANSPORTATION:
Road vehicles
The
number of motor
vehicles reflects
a number of environmental
impacts arising
from both the
production of
vehicles and
their use. Manufacturing
a vehicle uses
 large
amounts of energy
and resources
and generates
considerable
waste, including
the disposal
of old vehicles.
Operating
motor vehicles
causes significant
air pollution
(nitrogen oxides,
carbon monoxide
and volatile
organic compounds),
the emission
of greenhouse
gases and water
pollution. The
amount of oil
leaked from motor
vehicles into
rivers, lakes
and groundwater
in Canada is
estimated to
be six times
the annual volume
of oil spills.35
The
use of vehicles
requires the
construction
and maintenance
of road systems
that also cause
significant environmental
consequences,
including air
pollution, water
pollution, habitat
destruction and
fragmentation,
stream sedimentation
and increased
access for hunting,
fishing and poaching.
The
following statistics
refer to cars,
sport utility
vehicles, trucks,
vans and buses.
Canada’s
OECD Ranking
Canada is 25th
out of 29 OECD
nations in motor
vehicles per
capita. In Canada
there are .58
motor vehicles
for every person,
slightly higher
than the OECD
average of .50
vehicles per
person. Only
the United States,
Luxembourg, Australia
and Italy have
more cars per
capita.
In
1997, the total
number of vehicles
in Canada was
17,859,000, placing
Canada 22nd out
of 29 nations,
ahead of only
the United States,
Japan, France,
Germany, Italy,
Spain and the
United Kingdom.
Although the
OECD nations
comprise less
than 20% of the
world’s
population, they
own over 80%
of the world’s
motor vehicles.
Trend
The number of
motor vehicles
in Canada has
more than doubled
since 1970 and
is currently
growing faster
than the Canadian
population. The
number of motor
vehicles in the
OECD has also
more than doubled
since 1970.
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