By Emily Keller

enforcement services

Intersection safety, off-highway vehicles the focus of January’s STEP and BEEP initiatives

Jan 8, 2020 | 3:56 PM

Intersection safety is the focus this month for Enforcement Service’s Selected Traffic Enforcement Program, or STEP.

Sgt. Ross Gear with Enforcement Services says intersections are a high-risk zone for collisions and potential injuries.

“Be particularly careful if you’re making a left turn, left turns account for a lot of collisions, both for the person making the turn and perhaps a person coming through the intersection. Of course, stop signs and yield signs are very important, we have to have them cleared properly before a motorist can proceed.”

Failing to stop at a stop sign or a red light could see a fine of $388, and three demerits.

Gear says due to the high volume of traffic, certain intersections are more prone to collisions or incidents, and that speed is often a factor in collisions.

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The intersection at 116 Street and 100 Avenue had the most collisions in Grande Prairie between January 2019 to November 2019, with a total of 32 collisions and 29 injuries reported.

The intersection at 108 Street and 100 Avenue had 26 collisions and 30 injuries reported during the same timeframe.

Gear adds that when it comes to pedestrians at intersections, it is important to assume motorists may not or do not see you.

“Use caution. Do not step out until you have made eye contact with the driver or unless you know you have the right of way and traffic has stopped; vehicles have stopped. Just use that extra caution, especially this time of year because the streets are very slippery. Our transportation department does a tremendous job, they’re out working hard to clear the streets and sand them and make them safe, but we have to give them time to work.”

Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, either marked or unmarked may result in a $776 fine and four demerits, as well, failing to stop before entering a crosswalk or crossing the stop line near the side of an intersection may result in a $155 fine.

For the month of January’s Bylaw Enforcement Education Program (BEEP), Enforcement Services will have their attention on off-highway vehicles within urban areas.

Vehicles classified as off-highway include snowmobiles and quads.

It is prohibited to use off highway vehicles on street, boulevards, sidewalks, ditches, alleys, parkland, and trails.

Many of the rules in place for the use of off-highway vehicles are provincial as well.

Non-compliance carries a fine of $250 and possible seizure of the off-highway vehicle.