Selective Traffic Enforcement
Motorcycle Safety
July 1st, 2010
The Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for the month of July will focus on motorcycles. Motorcycles are less safe than cars and must be operated with great caution. Because of their low crash protection and high performance capabilities, motorcycles are more likely to be involved in a severe collision. Between 2004 and 2008 there was an average of 831 injury collisions in our province each year involving motorcycles. This is an increase from the 2002 – 2006 average of 743 injury collisions a year. This statistic is especially alarming since Albertans typically only ride their motorcycles about six months of the year.
The younger the motorcyclist, the higher the collision rate. Younger operators lack experience and have an invincibility or “no fear” attitude. Sport bikes are involved in the vast majority of motorcycle collisions because of their high performance capabilities and because they are usually operated by young males.
A SNELL or DOT approved helmet is required for the driver and passenger on a motorcycle. Even a properly secured helmet can come off in the event of a crash. Motorcyclists are also encouraged to wear the proper protective clothing when riding. Even if the proper equipment is worn, the risk of injury remains high. Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. Fact is, a rider without a helmet is 40% more likely to incur a fatal injury in a crash than a helmeted rider.
Throughout the month of July, officers will be ensuring that operators and passengers are wearing proper helmets and that the operator has a valid Class 6 license. This is the class of license required to operate a motorcycle in the province of Alberta. Wearing an illegal helmet could result in a $115 fine and not having the proper class of license could result in a $230 fine.
For more information contact the Camrose Police Service @ 780 672 4444.
Commercial Vehicle Safety
June 1st, 2010
The Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for the month of June will focus on Commercial vehicle safety. A Commercial vehicle is a truck, truck tractor, trailer or semi-trailer or combination thereof exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 4,500 kg. Drivers of commercial vehicles have limited vision while driving due to the size and dimension of the loads that they are carrying. A basic rule of thumb when following a commercial vehicle is that if you cannot see the mirrors on the vehicle, the driver will not be able to see you. Also keep in mind that commercial vehicles have a wider turning radius than passenger cars and may swing out into another lane prior to starting a turn. If you are in the vehicle’s blind spot, the driver may not see you.
From a statistical point of view, commercial vehicles make it to their destination safely 99% of the time. Truckers are much less likely to have consumed alcohol and be involved in collisions involving casualties. However, truck drivers were more likely than all drivers in casualty collisions to be fatigued or asleep at the time of the crash.
In the month of June, the Camrose Police Service will partner with the RCMP, Alberta Sheriffs, and the Alberta Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division of Alberta Transportation to conduct a Joint Forces Commercial Vehicle check stops. The goal of the joint forces check stops will be to ensure the commercial vehicles traveling on Alberta’s roadways are meeting current safety standards.
If you have any questions regarding commercial vehicles, please contact the Camrose Police Service or the local Commercial Vehicle Enforcement detachment.
May - Young Drivers
May 5th, 2010
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death and injury among Alberta's youth. Between 2004 - 2008, 257 young drivers were killed in motor vehicle collisions in Alberta. One in every four new drivers will be involved in a collision in the first two years of driving.
Young drivers are a high risk because they overestimate their driving ability and underestimate the risks of driving. Young drivers pass a written test to obtain their learners licence so they have the knowledge to operate a vehicle. What they lack is the experience required to develop safe driving skills.
TIPS FOR YOUNG DRIVERS:
1. Drive defensively - anticipate that another driver may not follow the rules of the road.
2. Avoid being distracted while driving - limit teen passengers and do not engage in using electronic devices. Your attention needs to be at the primary task at hand which is safely operating the vehicle.
3. Peer pressure - don't let other occupants pressure you into a traffic violation or taking a risk with your vehicle.
4. Alcohol - if you have consumed any alcohol do not drive. As a GDL (graduated drivers licence) operator there is a zero tolerance for alcohol. Alcohol impairs your ability to react to situations.
TIPS FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG DRIVERS:
1. Be a good example! Your child will spend the first 16 years or so as a passenger in your vehicle so lead by example. If you exceed the speed limit, follow to closely to other vehicles, fail to make complete stops or show outward frustration and impatience while operating a vehicle, your child is learning your bad habits.
2. When your driving and your young driver is the passenger, teach them how to drive defensively. Verbalize to them what you are watching out for as you negotiate your vehicle.
3. Allow your leaner driver plenty of opportunities to drive while you are a front seat passenger. Teach them good driving habits and become confident in their driving at an early stages so they will be ready to operate a vehicle on their own when the time is right.
4. Set your own ground rules for driving such as only allowing them to drive from point A to point B or not allowing them to carry any passengers.
Kelly BAUER / Traffic Services / Camrose Police Service
Vehicle Speed
April 1st, 2010
The Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for the month of April is Speed. Speed is a major contributing factor in serious injury and fatal collisions. Data indicates that speed related collisions begin to rise dramatically in April and carry through the remainder of the year. The speed limit in the City of Camrose is 50 km/h unless otherwise posted.
The speed limit in Playground and School zones is 30 km/hr. Playground zones are in effect from 8:30AM to one hour after sunset. School zones are in effect from 8:00AM to 9:30AM, 11:30AM to 1:30PM and from 3:00PM to 4:30PM. If you are unsure of the hours in which these speed limits are in effect then either reduce your speed to 30km/hr at all times or plan your route to avoid the zone altogether.
Fines for speeding can range from $57 for 1 km/h over to $351 for 50 km/h over the speed limit. Motorists can be sent to court for going more than 50 km/h over the speed limit.
In October 2005 Bill 39 was passed which requires motorists to slow to 60 km/h or less if the posted speed limit is lower, when passing emergency vehicles with their lights flashing. The goal of Bill 39 is to reduce the risk of injury and death to emergency services personnel when responding to, or working at, emergency scenes. This Bill also applies to construction zones when workers are present. Fines for speeding in these areas are doubled and can range from $115 for 1 km/h over the limit to $703 for 50 km/h over the limit.
Lower speeds also help prevent collisions. Even a 5 km/h difference in speed can have an enormous impact on your stopping distance. If two vehicles are traveling side by side, one at 60 km/h and one at 65 km/h, the vehicle traveling at 65 km/h will need an additional 4m to come to a stop. Although 4m may not seem like a great distance, the vehicles lose half their speed in the last 5m. What does that mean exactly? While the 60km/h vehicle is nearly stopped and only traveling at 5 km/h, the other vehicle is still traveling at 27 km/h. That 5 km/h at the beginning of the braking can be the difference between a collision with no injuries and little damage and a collision with major damage and injury.
For more information contact:
Cst. Kelly BAUER Traffic Unit Camrose Police Service Ph. 780 672 4444
Occupant Restraints
March 1st, 2010
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for the month of March will be focusing on Occupant Restraints. The use of occupant restraints reduces the likelihood of sustaining an injury and the severity of the injury decreases as well. Research and collision investigations show that seat belts increase the chances of survival in a collision by 50 per cent. It is estimated seatbelts save about a 1000 lives per year in Canada. All occupants in a vehicle must utilize an occupant restraint. One unrestrained occupant increases the risk for all occupants in the vehicle.
Infants under 1 year of age and under 22lbs (10kg) should remain rear facing. Once a child is over 1 year old, is at least 22 lbs (10kg) and can get themselves from a seated to a standing position without any type of assistance they can be turned forward facing. Forward facing child safety seats normally have a 5 point harness and are attached to the back seat via a seatbelt or by using the vehicle’s LATCH system.
Once a child weighs 40lbs (18kg) and is 40” tall, they have outgrown a child safety seat and move to a booster seat. All children under 9 years of age who weigh less than 80 lb (36 kg) or are under 4'9" (145 cm) should remain in a booster seat to help position the seat belt properly on the child’s body. A child is 4 times more likely to suffer a head injury in a crash when using just an adult seat belt than when buckled in a booster seat.
If you have specific questions regarding installation of your child's car seat please contract Kathryn BADRY at Camrose Public Health at (780) 679-3156.
The Camrose Police Service would like to remind all drivers that they are required to wear their seatbelts at all times, and that they must be worn properly. Failure to do so can result in a $115 fine.
Distracted Driving
February 4th, 2010
Distracted driving is defined as anything that diverts the attention of the driver from the task of operating a vehicle. Distracted driving is one of the great unreported traffic safety problems facing Canadians today. There is a preconceived notion that one must be connected to work and home at all times and that driving is an unproductive task so people are trying to accomplish more in less time. Advancements in technology have given us GPS, I-Pods, cell phones capable of browsing the internet and text messaging. However,technology alone cannot shoulder all the blame for distracted drivers. Anything from looking at a map to find your route to dealing with the kids in the back seat of the car can be a distraction. Only a handful of studies have been conducted on the subject of distracted driving, but the most recent data indicates that 80% of collisions are caused by some form of driver distraction.
Some ways to reduce the number of distractions inside your vehicle are:
- Don't answer a cell phone or read a text message while driving. Wait until you have reached your destination to use your phone.
- Know the route you are taking to your destination, and if you are travelling an unfamiliar route, budget extra time into your trip.
- Ensure the volume of the music is at a reasonable level. Loud music can drown out the siren of an emergency vehicle trying to get around you.
- Know your vehicle and where various gauges and radio control knobs are so you are not looking where they are while driving.
- Ensure that all items in your vehicle are secure prior to your trip
Section 115 (1) of the Traffic Safety Act prohibits drivers who operate vehicles without due care and attention from using the highway. Motorists convicted of violating this Section may be subject to a loss of up to six demerit points and a fine of $402.
Motorists in Alberta are also not permitted to drive with a person, animal or thing occupying the front seat of the vehicle that impedes the drivers' access and use ofthe steering wheel, brakes and other equipment necessary to operate the vehicle safely.
Intersection Safety
January 7th, 2010
The Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for the month of January will focus on intersection safety. In Canada 30% of fatalities and 40% of serious injuries from collisions involved an intersection. In 2008, 89 people were killed and 9,134 people were injured in collisions at intersections in Alberta.
Three(3) of the top five(5) improper driver actions that cause collisions occur at intersections, and those actions are:
- Making a left turn across the path of another vehicle is the most frequently identified improper driver action that contributes to collisions in an intersection.
- Stop sign violations and
- Disobeying a traffic signal.
Drivers should take the following three precautions when approaching and crossing an intersection:
- Scan the intersection and beyond, as you approach with caution.
- Always be 100% prepared to yield. Keep your foot off the accelerator and covering the brake pad.
- Before proceeding, check for cross-traffic. Look left, right, left again and continue to scan as you proceed.
- Watch for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
- Before proceeding, make eye contact with other intersection users - including pedestrians.
Failure to stop at a stop sign or red light results in a $287 fine and 3 demerits. A driver is required to come to a complete stop, which means the wheels of the vehicle must not be moving, before proceeding safely through the intersection.
A sidewalk acts as a stop sign. Before entering a main street from a road, service road, alley, driveway or parking lot a vehicle must stop unless marked otherwise.
When vehicles arrive at a four way stop sign, courtesy is to allow the vehicle that arrived first to proceed first. If vehicles arrive simultaneously, right of way is given to the vehicle on the right, while left turning vehicles yield to approaching traffic.
Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk carries a fine of $575 plus 4 demerit points.
If an emergency vehicle with its lights or sirens activated is approaching an intersection all other vehicles must give up the right of way until the emergency vehicle has passed through the intersection. Failure to do so is a $172 fine plus 3 demerits.
Impaired Driving
December 1st, 2009
Impaired drivers continue to be a threat to the safety of the public on our streets and highways. Our police service continues to seek out the offenders on a daily basis. The Alberta Enhanced Checkstop Program is in full swing. Alberta Sheriffs, RCMP and Camrose Police Service will be operating checkstops in and around the city. We want them to serve as a reminder to all drivers that Impaired Driving will not be tolerated.
The Camrose Police Service encourages the public to do their part in the fight against this crime. If you suspect an impaired driver contact police. Some of the driving patterns you may see are driving slowly or constantly changing speeds, swerving left and right, reacting slowly to traffic signals (stopping into the intersection) and wide turns. An impaired driver has a difficult time with multiple tasks, which driving requires and you'll often see them staring straight ahead in an attempt to process the information coming at them.
PLEASE DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!
