Analysis Shows...

The Canadian Press. Ottawa - If the federal government wants to cut costs, it may want to put bureaucrats through driving school. The government's books show fender benders, involving federal vehicles, in recent years cost taxpayers $28 million in repairs, or write-offs. An analysis by The Canadian Press of the government's audited financial statements since the 2000-01 fiscal year found thousands of federal vehicles have been in accidents. At least 8,511 motor-vehicle accidents have been reported in the Public Accounts of Canada. The actual tally is probably higher, since not all departments report the number of collisions in a given year. Two-thirds of the overall cost of collisions came from the Mounties. Vehicle accidents involving members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police cost the government $18.8 million. The RCMP has been in at least 4,596 motor-vehicle accidents since 2001, more than any other department or agency seen in Public Accounts documents. The RCMP's annual crash tallies have only been reported in the Public Accounts since 2006, so the 10-year total is likely far higher. The force has been getting in more and more accidents over the last five years. The number of RCMP accidents rose from 427 in 2006 to 1,068 last year.