Debbie Hammond from the Coalition for Safer Alberta Roads tries out the AMA's Road Bot simulator. Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

Roads

Industry part of effort to make highways safer

Jun 12, 2019 | 5:30 AM

It is not just politicians, police, and safety groups looking for safer driving on Highways 40 and 43.

The industry is part of the push as well.

A number of companies are part of the Coalition for Safer Alberta Roads.

Simon Paradis with Shell Canada is the board chair for the Coalition.

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He says it works in three areas, including advocating with government on what should be done, promoting driver education, and making sure the right infrastructure gets built.

“Couldn’t be more proud to have witnessed the Alberta Transportation announcement recently, in terms of a number of widening passing lanes for Highway 40, that will be awarded over the next two years, through a number of construction companies. That’ll make a big difference, I think, in terms of the safety of Highway 40. Widening the roads, rumble strips, additional signage, lighting etc.”

Paradis says 30 oil and gas companies are part of the group. He adds it takes a combination of the right infrastructure and the right driver education to keep people safe.

“I don’t think one can be weighed over the other. I think they are both equally important and that’s why we’ve structured our three sub-committees in this Coalition the way that we have. They’re equally represented and we promote everything that we can influence.”

Ryan Paulgaard with NuVista Energy says the number one safety concern for the company’s employees is driving to and from work.

“This is our way to get a little voice out and work with, not only our employees, but our vendors to promote that safe drive to and from work on a daily basis.”

The Coalition invited industry people, the RCMP, GP Safe Communities, the AMA, and politicians from the City and County of Grande Prairie to its “So, You Think You Can Drive Challenge” Tuesday at Centre 2000. It saw people try walking a straight line while wearing impaired glasses and trying out different road emergency simulations like wildlife darting in front of a vehicle or having a tire blowout in AMA’s Road Bot simulator.