Good news for Quebec motorists: car registration will cost less next year, as the Quebec Transport Ministry announced a surplus of $745 million Tuesday. Drivers will pay about 35 percent less for their plates starting in 2016, which represents an average savings of $65 per year.

The lower price is the result of fewer car accidents on Quebec roads last year.

Killer road accidents decreased for the eighth-straight year in 2014, as 336 people died in Quebec, 55 fewer than in 2013, a decline of 14.1 percent.

Serious injuries were also down by 8.7 per cent as 1,573 suffered serious injuries in 2014. Minor injuries declined by 4.8 percent.

Total road fatalities for people aged 15 to 24 declined by 9.6 per cent. Since 2009 the death rate for such young drivers dropped by 46 percent.

Cyclist fatalities were down by 45 per cent as 11 cyclists died in 2014, compared to 20 the year before.

Truck fatalities were up, however as 75 died in accidents involving trucks in 2014, up from 64 in 2013, an increase of 17 per cent.

CHART

Fatalities were stable in the Montreal area, as 32 died on local roads, just one less than in 2013. The total has dropped 16.7 per cent from 2009.  There were 273 serious injuries suffered in Montreal-area motor accidents in 2014, one more than in 2013. Minor injuries were down in and around Montreal in 2014 as 6,921 were so injured compared to 7,161 in 2013.