The Capital Region Intersection Safety Partnership (CRISP) launched the latest message in its Real Consequences campaign with this month's focus on making safe left turns at intersections. The campaign sends the message that driving is not a game, but a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously. This idea is supported with images on billboards and in transit shelters, as well as radio commercials that will air throughout Edmonton, St. Albert and Strathcona County.
CRISP's mission is to reduce the frequency and severity of intersection collisions. “We are focusing on unsafe left turns this month because they are the second most identified cause of intersection collisions," says Gerry Shimko, CRISP Chair and Executive Director of Edmonton's Office of Traffic Safety. “By raising awareness of this issue, we hope to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities at Capital Region intersections and show the real consequences of what can happen."
The campaign targets two groups: adult drivers between 26 to 65, who make up 75 per cent of the driving population, and young male drivers between the ages of 16 to 25, who have the highest percentage of collisions by age group. Real Consequences aims to educate motorists and have them assess their own driving habits, while realizing that the majority of collisions result from driver error.
The most recent statistics indicate that from January to October 2009, there were 1,394 collisions in Edmonton caused by unsafe left hand turns. Of those, 358 were injury collisions and 1,036 involved property damage. “A good rule of thumb to follow is, if you can't see, don't go," says Don Szarko with the Alberta Motor Association. “Motorists need to consider road conditions and be aware of what's going on around them. If you're not sure whether it's safe to go, it's better to wait a few minutes than risk your life or someone else's."
CRISP shares resources and expertise to implement ongoing, collaborative, and integrated intersection safety initiatives to reduce the frequency and severity of intersection collisions in the Capital Region. Initiatives involve integration of education, engineering, and enforcement strategies, and target four priorities: red light violations, pedestrian safety, speed and high crash locations. For more information, visit their website at realconsequences.ca.
The Capital Region Intersection Safety Partnership is comprised of the following traffic safety and injury prevention stakeholders: Alberta Motor Association, Alberta Health Services, City of Edmonton, City of St. Albert, Strathcona County, Edmonton Police Service, St. Albert RCMP Detachment and Strathcona County RCMP Detachment.
The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) is the largest membership organization in Alberta, representing more than 892,000 members. As a leading advocate for traffic safety, travel and consumer protection, crime prevention, and the environment, AMA represents the interests of its members and the motoring public to industry and all levels of government. Visit ama.ab.ca to learn more about AMA's products, services and member advocacy initiatives.
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For more information contact:
Don Szarko
Alberta Motor Association
780-430-5733 or
cell 780-982-8827
don.szarko@ama.ab.ca
Gerry Shimko
City of Edmonton - Office of Traffic Safety
780-496-2673
gerry.shimko@edmonton.ca
Lisa Lammi
Edmonton Police Service
780-421-2638
Lisa.Lammi@edmontonpolice.ca
Jillian Baird
City of St. Albert
780-459-1741
jbaird@st-albert.net
Noreen Remtulla
Alberta Health Services
780-407-1834 or cell 780-497-9919
Noreen.Remtulla@albertahealthservices.ca
Dawn Green
Strathcona County
780-416-6726
greend@strathcona.ab.ca
