EDMONTON – Edmonton experienced a rise in fatalities and injury collisions last year.
Edmonton’s 2015 Motor Vehicle Collisions Report shows the number of fatalities jumped from 23 in 2014 to 32 in 2015, injury collisions rose from 2,912 to 3,033 during the same period.
The rise comes after a 50 per cent drop in injury collisions over the past decade.
“We have half as many injury collisions as we did in 2006, but every injury and fatality has devastating effects,” Gerry Shimko, executive director of the office of traffic safety, said. “We must continue to make our roads safer.”
The data is used to identify issues like high-speed locations and high-collision intersections and implement strategies to solve the problems.
Collision data is also used to improve road designs, road rehabilitation projects, and traffic signal changes and additions.
The City said several intersections have improved because of the strategy, including the southbound right turn at 63 Avenue and 99 Street.
“Our goal is Vision Zero: zero traffic fatalities and major injuries on Edmonton roads. Some people say that goal is not realistic until I ask them what would be the acceptable number for their family. The answer is always zero,” Shimko said. “Everyone has a part in reaching our goal.”