Still work to do despite fewer alcohol-related fatalities in Alberta last year: province

EDMONTON – New statistics released by the province show the number of alcohol-related fatalities on Alberta roads in 2014 was the lowest ever recorded. However, the government said there is still much work to be done.

According to numbers released Saturday morning, there were 15 per cent fewer alcohol-related fatalities in 2014 compared to 2013. The number of impaired drivers involved in fatal collisions dropped by 20.5 per cent.

“While there are certainly some bright spots in this report, the number of fatalities and injuries on Alberta roads show that we still have work to do to ensure everyone is safe on our roads,” said Transportation Minister Brian Mason.

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Overall, traffic fatalities have dropped by 19 per cent since Alberta’s first Traffic Safety Plan was introduced in 2007. The number of fatalities on Alberta roads has dropped to 369 in 2014 from 458 in 2007.

However, the number of collisions has increased since last year. In 2014, there were 144,740 collision on Alberta roads, which is up by about 3,100 compared to 2013. Last year there were 18,745 non-fatal injuries in Alberta.

Despite fewer alcohol-related fatalities in 2014, the province said the overall fatality rate is unchanged from 2013. The injury rate decreased slightly from 2013, according to the province.

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In the past year, the number of drivers in Alberta has increased by 89,247 and the number of vehicles is up by 131,064. Traffic volumes on Alberta highways have also jumped by 4.53 per cent.

The government said four provinces and two territories had lower fatality rates than Alberta in 2013.

Here are a few of the traffic statistic highlights from the 2014 report:

• While the number of fatal collisions declined by 0.9 per cent in 2014, the number of traffic fatalities increased by 3.1 per cent in 2014, over 2013;
• Overall injury collisions were up 1.2 per cent in 2014 and injuries increased by 0.5 per cent;
• The total number of collisions increased 2.2 per cent compared to 2013;
• In total collisions during 2014, 5.7 per cent involved unsafe speed; however, one in four fatal collisions involved unsafe speed;
• The number of fatalities has dropped from 458 fatalities in 2007 to 369 in 2014, while serious injuries also dropped by 12 per cent and minor injuries dropped by 25 per cent.

For more information on the traffic statistics, visit the Alberta Government’s website.