Deadly collisions on Alberta roads dip to five-year low in 2016

EDMONTON Fatal collisions hit a five-year low in 2016, according to traffic collision statistics recently released by the province.

There were 299 deaths on Alberta roads in 2016, according to a report published online earlier this month. The information — the most recently available annual data on collisions in the province — shows a 9.4 per cent drop in deaths compared to 2015, while other injuries decreased by 7.2 per cent.

Property damage collisions were also at the lowest reported totals since 2012.

The total number of people killed in alcohol-related collisions was at a record low of 57, according to the report. However, alcohol remained a factor in 16 per cent of fatal crashes.

Unsafe speeds were reported to be a factor in nearly one quarter of fatal collisions and in 7.7 per cent of injury collisions.

In the vast majority of collisions — nearly 86 per cent — at least one driver made an error. In fatal collisions the most common error was running off the road, while following too closely was the most prevalent driver error in injury collisions.

One in four 2016 collisions were intersection-related.

A breakdown of drivers’ ages shows that males aged 18 to 19 were more likely to be involved in casualty collisions than any other age group, followed by males aged 16 to 17. Men between the ages of 18 and 21 were the most likely to have consumed alcohol before a crash.

Among women only, drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 were the most likely to be involved in casualty collisions.

Although far more collisions occurred in urban areas than rural areas — 110,889 to 22,235 — 174 of the 273 collisions where people were killed were in a rural area.

The information also reveals Friday was the day of the week with

the most collisions, evening rush hour was the time of day when most crashes occur and that while May had the highest number of fatal crashes, December had the most collisions overall.

Passenger cars, minivans and pickup trucks were the vehicles most likely to be involved in collisions where people were injured or killed.