ATHABASCA-BARRHEAD-WESTLOCK – Spring brings warm weather, clearer roads, and a reminder from the Alberta RCMP about the dangers of speeding.
While police categorize speeding as a “dangerous driving behaviour” it remains prevalent across Alberta, with an April 6 release from the RCMP noting they issued over 55,000 speeding tickets in 2022. RCMP also say that in 2020, 57 people were killed and 1,128 were injured in collisions involving at least one driver travelling at an unsafe speed and more than one in four fatal collisions involve one or more speeding drivers.
For the Alberta RCMP Traffic Units based in Westlock and Boyle which patrol the highways from Barrhead to Slave Lake and Athabasca to Lac La Biche, trying to get drivers to slow down is a never-ending battle. RCMP say that based on rates per 10,000 licensed operators, drivers ages 20-24 are more likely to have been speeding at the time of a collision than older drivers.
Alberta RCMP Traffic-Boyle commander Sgt. Lee Simpkins said the message is especially timely leading into the Easter long weekend and May as more people are travelling. Ultimately, his message is that driving at unsafe speeds increases the risk of collisions, which at higher speeds are much more likely to cause serious injury.
“At the end of the day it’s all about reducing the number of fatalities on the road,” said Simpkins, who’s been in Boyle for the last 15 months and counts 15 years in traffic.
“General duty is the backbone of the RCMP, don’t get me wrong, but what we do in traffic is tangible at the end of the day — we can measure our enforcement and the reduction of fatalities.”
Simpkins said speed, impaired driving and distracted driving are the three main causes of collisions and the stakes get higher when people combine them. As part of the release, the RCMP note that the faster you’re going, the longer it takes to stop and to always ensure you’re leaving enough space to avoid unexpected traffic hazards.
“Those three are the things we’re looking for every day — speeding, impaired and distracted. Those high-risk drivers are who are causing the fatalities,” said Simpkins, who recalled that in his first year at his first posting at 100 Mile House in B.C., he had to deal with 13 fatalities.
Alberta RCMP Traffic-Westlock Const. Dalton Rouse, who counts 16 years of experience, said “there’s always a speeder to be caught” in the area and noted that vehicle-animal collisions on all of the region’s highways “is a huge issue” which are exacerbated when drivers are well above the speed limit.
“People are speeding because they’re trying to make an appointment, are late or just simply on a long trip and want to get to where they want to be. And we find that by the time we stop them, they’re pretty much halfway between the two points they’re travelling to and from,” said Rouse. “Really, what I’d like to tell people is that instead of speeding up, they should be considering taking more breaks. People overestimate their abilities and fatigue impacts your ability to concentrate.”
Rouse noted that the posted speed limited is for “ideal conditions” as on a dry road, it takes an average vehicle travelling 40 km/h about 26 metres to stop and at 80 km/h, it would take about 69 metres. Both men also recommend giving yourself a few extra minutes as leaving early will gain some extra time and help avoid the feeling of being rushed.
“We’ve all passed that tractor trailer and then no sooner do we pull into where we’re going, and the tractor trailer pulls in right behind. We all get into the head space where it’s like you’re trying to win a race and really that’s not a good head space to be in,” said Rouse.
Finally, RCMP remind drivers to be mindful of school zones and construction zones as those areas often have high pedestrian traffic and to adjust your speed accordingly.
“Collisions where speed is a factor are far more likely to lead to serious injuries or fatalities,” said Insp. Chris Romanchych, Alberta RCMP Traffic. “Saving a minute or two isn’t worth risking a life. Make sure you follow the speed limit, and if conditions are poor, slow down.”
