Intersection Safety

"The light was yellow – I thought I’d make it.”

Make changes, not excuses.

In Canada, 28 per cent of fatalities and 40 per cent of serious injuries from collisions involved an intersection. In 2011, 52 people were killed, and 7,723 people were injured in collisions at intersections in Alberta. About 90 per cent of collisions are attributable to driver error. Driving properly and safely is important in reducing collisions.

St. Albert Statistics

• In 2014, approximately 49 per cent of intersection collisions involved rear-end incidents. This is a five per cent increase from 2013.
  • Majority of rear-end collisions occur along three St. Albert Trail intersections (2012-2014): 
    • St. Albert Trail & Giroux Road/Boudreau Road
    • St. Albert Trail & McKenney Avenue/Bellerose Drive
    • St. Albert Trail & Hebert Road/Gervais Road
  • To learn more, view the Prevent Rear-End Collisions page
• Between May 2014 and April 2015, implementation of the protected only left turns reduced injury collisions by 85 per cent on St. Albert Trail. To learn more, view the Protected Only Left Turns page. 

For Drivers

• Intersections can be dangerous – pay close attention to your driving and others.
• Watch out for other drivers and pedestrians.
• Always look before proceeding through any intersections.
• Be prepared for the unexpected and share the road safely.

Never

• Run red lights.
• Roll through a stop sign.
• Speed through intersections.
• Follow too closely
  • The optimal minimum distance between two vehicles at 60 km/hr (speed limit on St. Albert Trail) = 30 metres during typical and good road conditions. And when the road turns slippery, the safe stopping distance you need to avoid a rear-end collision on St. Albert Trail, doubles. 
  • Prevent Rear-End Collisions
• Make unsafe left-hand turns.
• Rely on having the right of way.

For Pedestrians

• Point, Pause, Proceed. Be alert at intersections and always look out for possible dangers when crossing the street.
• Make eye contact with drivers before you cross the street.
• Abide by traffic signs and signals. They are in place to protect your safety.

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Related Pages

Prevent Rear-End Collisions ›

Distracted Driving ›

Pedestrian Safety ›