Traffic deaths up in 2012

City focusing on high-velocity non-rush-hour speeding

Even though the number of collisions on Edmonton streets have largely declined the past 10 years, the city remains concerned about the number of fatalities and serious injuries.

In 2012, the city had 23,237 reported collisions, down slightly from 23,442 in 2011. The number of deaths was up 18.2 per cent, from 22 in 2011 to 27 in 2012.

Yongshen Chen, a traffic safety analyst for the city, said fatality numbers are fairly consistent over the past five years, with 22 killed in 2010, 32 in 2009, 29 in 2008 and 32 in 2007.

“From statistical perspective, (it’s) back to its normal level,” Chen said of the 27 people killed in crashes in 2012, including eight pedestrians, one cyclist and four motorcyclists.

He said a warm, early spring likely contributed to the deaths, with people speeding more with the arrival of the sunshine.

Collisions in all three areas — pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist — were all down year to year, but because the same number of each type of commuter died in 2011 and 2012, Chen said the city is focusing on safety strategies to reduce deaths and major injuries rather than general collisions. In 2012, 517 people suffered major injuries compared to 445 in 2011.

For instance, rather than using traffic resources to reduce general collisions in the peak morning and after-work rush hours, he said most education and enforcement campaigns are being targeted to reduce speeding in the off- hours, since those drivers are the ones who aren’t slowed by congestion and cause the most damage.

Many injuries, for instance, happen around midnight along Whyte Avenue, Chen said, since that’s an entertainment district with potentially impaired drivers encountering many pedestrians.

“(It’s) back to its normal level.” CITY TRAFFIC SAFETY ANALYST YONGSHEN CHEN ON THE 2012 DEATH TOLL

He said educating drivers is key. The city’s office of traffic safety parks vans in specific, high-risk areas, equipped with signage that reminds people not to drink and drive, or to keep distance from the vehicle in front.

The city also puts out digital signs that tell drivers how fast they are driving.

“I think education changes human beings’ behaviour,” Chen said. “You know your speed immediately. That’s awareness of the situation.”

Chen used the release of this year’s collision statistics to remind people of hidden dangers: don’t be fooled by warm, sunny weather, he said. Drivers must always be on high alert so they aren’t distracted.