January 17, 2011
The City of Red Deer’s 2009 Traffic Collision report was released this week, and even with an increase in the City and region populations, there was a slight decrease in the number of reported traffic collisions in 2009.
Rebecca Clark, Traffic Engineer with The City, believes this report is an important tool for reducing the number of traffic collisions on Red Deer’s Streets.
“This report show the progress we are making towards reducing collisions, as well as areas that still need some work,” said Clark. “Most traffic collisions are preventable, and it’s important Red Deerians understand the role we all play in traffic safety.”
In 2009, there were 4,142 reported motor vehicle collisions on public streets and public parking lots in the city, a slight drop from 2008. The most common type of collisions recorded were rear end collisions (24 per cent) caused mainly by drivers following other vehicles too closely. The second most reported collision type was backing into another vehicle at 21 per cent. There were no road fatalities in 2009, compared to five in 2008 and three in 2007. The number of road injuries has also decreased by over 15 per cent in 2009 from 2008 figures, with a total of 539 reported minor and major injuries in 2009.
The City’s 2009-2011 Traffic Safety Action Plan (TSAP) aims at reducing fatal and injury collision frequency and identifies eight emphasis safety areas such as aggressive driving, impaired driving, intersections and restraint usage. Based on the 2009 report, there have been reductions in many of the identified areas, however, snow related, restraint usage, and pedestrians/bicyclists collisions haven’t seen reductions.
“It is good to see the reductions in collision frequency in most of the emphasis areas,” said Clark. “Now we know what areas we need to focus more attention on to reduce collisions and keep our roads safe.”
“This study and the Traffic Safety Action Plan help us raise awareness about safety on our streets,” said Sgt Bob Bell with the Red Deer RCMP. “Everyone has a role to play in traffic safety, and if drivers pay attention and slow down they will reduce the number of collisions and help save lives on our streets.”
-end-
For more information contact:
Rebecca Clark Sgt. Bob Bell
Traffic Engineer Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Engineering Department Traffic Services Division
The City of Red Deer Red Deer City Detachment
403-342-8158 403-406-2228
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