Experts say stiffer fines improve safety
More severe penalties will quickly get drivers’ attention starting May 1
Dramatically increased fines for driving offences may get motorists thinking twice about speeding and other risky behaviours behind the wheel, traffic experts said.
Starting May 1, penalties for several driving offences will increase an average of 35 per cent under new measures introduced Thursday in the provincial budget.
It’s the first increase to fines for speeding and several other violations since 2003 — made necessary, said Justice Minister Jonathan Denis, because the current amounts had lost their deterrent effect in the face of years of inflation.
Fines for speeding will range from $78-$474, up from the current range of $57-$351. The penalty for running a red light increases $101 to $388.
Former Edmonton police chief Fred Rayner said authorities may not notice an immediate drop in violations, but predicted the “water-cooler talk” generated when drivers start getting hit with the higher fines will spread the word and make people slow down.
“When you increase fines by 35 per cent, you get people’s attention. I do think it will have a deterrent effect,” Rayner said.
In 2013, Alberta Transportation recorded 358 people killed in 331 fatal collisions across the province. There were a further 18,650 people injured in crashes and 127,234 reported collisions involving property damage, but no injuries.
Among the 13 provinces and territories, Alberta’s casualty rates were among the lowest in the country when last compared in 2011: the rate of 5.7 fatalities per billion kilometres of travel ranked 10th in the country and was below the national average of 5.8; Alberta’s injury rate was ranked even lower, at 12th.
But the Alberta Transportation statistics show when deaths and injuries occur, they’re usually preventable and almost always due to driver error. In more than 98 per cent of collisions involving death or injury, investigators found no apparent defect in the vehicles involved. Police reported driver error in 86.5 per cent of all collisions in 2013. In 6.4 per cent of cases, police found one or more motorists were driving too fast — but 26.6 per cent of fatal collisions involved unsafe speed.
Other offences now subject to higher fines, such as running red lights and failing to yield to pedestrians, are also among leading factors in casualty collisions.
The Alberta Motor Association says higher fines are among several tools that can enhance traffic safety, but education and public awareness are also needed to change people’s attitudes. Influencing driver attitudes is key to changing their behaviour in a lasting way, said Jeff Kasbrick, the AMA’s vice-president of government and stakeholder relations.
Raynor said the government and organizations like the AMA can use technology and social media to reach young drivers, the demographic with the highest involvement in collisions..