Red Deer City RCMP responded to 119 traffic collisions in the first 12 days of January.
Drivers are being warned to take precautions because, “almost every collision is preventable,” said Sergeant Al Nickolson, of the Red Deer RCMP Traffic Unit.
Motorists should slow down and be alert to road conditions. Most crashes are caused by someone making an unsafe turn or lane change, running a traffic light, or going too fast for icy conditions.
“Many… errors are related to impatience, aggression, or a general lack of attention,” said Nickolson. “Drivers need to pay attention at all times to what other drivers are doing, and should always be prepared to respond quickly to unsafe actions.”
An estimated 57 of the 119 local collisions so far this year happened in intersections and involved two or more vehicles. Of these, 21 were caused by a driver running a red light, making an unsafe turn, or ignoring a stop sign.
Seventeen crashes occurred when a driver rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped at a red light, or rear-ended a car or truck waiting to turn at an intersection. One vehicle was rear-ended while stopped at a crosswalk, allowing a pedestrian to cross.
Seven more intersection smash-ups occurred when drivers were unable to stop safely on icy roads. Fortunately, police report most of these resulted in no injuries or only minor injuries.
The Red Deer intersections with the highest collision rates are at 30 Avenue and 67 Street, and at Gaetz Avenue and 67 Street. Drivers are urged to pay attention and drive defensively at all times.
Motorists are reminded they must report an accident to police if it causes an injury, or if there is $2,000 or more in damage (if you aren’t sure, get an estimate first).