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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Alberta

January traffic safety tips: intersection safety

Jan 8, 2024 | 6:21 PM

Alberta’s government is reminding drivers to slow down and proceed carefully through intersections.

According to provincial officials, statistics show intersection-related collisions increase in January, largely due to winter driving conditions. One in four collisions on Alberta roads is said to occur at an intersection, resulting in thousands of dollars in damages, countless injuries and needless deaths each year.

Officials note that pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists converge at intersections at different speeds, increasing the risk of collisions. Preventable collisions are largely said to be due to driver error, such as driving too fast for conditions, making an improper left turn, failing to stop at a stop sign or disobeying a traffic signal. The government says we all have a responsibility to ensure our roads are safe for everyone.

Intersection safety tips

• If you can’t see the wheels of the vehicle in front of you, you’ve stopped too close.
• When approaching an intersection or crosswalk, always be alert for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
• Pedestrians always have the right-of-way at an unmarked intersection or stop sign unless otherwise indicated by signage.
• Elderly pedestrians or those with disabilities may need more time to cross the road. Please be patient and wait until they finish crossing.

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Alberta government quick facts

• Most collisions in Alberta (90 per cent in 2021) are property damage-only collisions.
• About 96 per cent of intersection collisions occur in urban areas.
• On average, 47 people are killed and almost 7,000 people are injured each year in collisions at intersections in Alberta.
• About 80 per cent of all collisions involve driver error.
• In Alberta, failing to stop at a stop sign can result in a $405 fine and three demerits.
• At a stop sign, drivers must come to a complete stop before proceeding safely through the intersection.