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Intersections ‘the silent killer’, say RCMP
12/24/08
BY MARK WEBER
Red Deer Express
Starting next month, RCMP will be vigorously stepping up efforts to reduce the loss of lives at Alberta intersections.
Last year, 92 people were killed and 10,092 were injured in collisions at provincial intersections.
About 15% of all deaths from traffic collisions in Alberta are due to an intersection infraction.
About 90% of the collisions were due to driver error.
Between 14% and 24% of all fatalities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba occur at intersection in rural areas.
“The results of an intersection collision, especially on highways and roadways that have higher speed limits, can be devastating,” said Sgt. Geoff Buxcey of the Bashaw detachment.
“Public safety is paramount, and police officers will continue to focus on the driving behaviours that put the public at risk: failing to stop, proceeding from intersections when unsafe to do so, speed and failing to yield the right of way to other vehicles or pedestrians.”
Last year in Alberta, three of the top five most frequent improper driver actions were making a left turn across path (13%), committing a stop sign violation (8%) and disobeying traffic signals (7.3%).
Police say nation-wide, 30% of fatalities and 40% of serious injuries from collisions involved an intersection.
Also nationally, more than half of intersection fatalities and almost three-quarters of serious injuries happen in urban areas.
There are hefty fines for those who choose to ignore the rules.
Failing to yield to a pedestrian on a crosswalk carries a fine of $575 plus four demerit points. Drivers must also come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
Failing to stop and/or failing to proceed safely after stopping are some of the high-risk driving behaviours that could result in a serious collisions, police say.
Again, there’s a stiff penalty for those who side-step the rules.
Failing to obey a stop sign could land you a fine of $287 plus the demerit points against your license, or worse, may result in a serious or fatal collision.
While education and enforcement are tools that may have an impact on road safety, the most important factor is driver attitude, said Sgt. Buxcey.
“With all road users working together, we will reduce the carnage that results at our intersections,” he said.
Police often hear the same old excuses after- collisions, he added.
“Following an intersection-related collision, RCMP officers often hear excuses such as there’s never anything coming so I didn’t think there would be this time or there wasn’t anyone at the last stop sign so I automatically entered the intersection after a rolling stop,” he said.
“Not expecting another car or person in the intersection is a weak excuse for putting your own or someone else’s life at risk,” he said.
“When you approach a stop sign, come to a full and complete stop. Every time. No exceptions.”
mweber@reddeer.greatwest.ca 309-5459
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