News Release
One in four fatal collisions involves speed
Twenty-seven per cent of fatal collisions in Alberta involve driving at a speed unsafe for the prevailing road conditions.
Alberta Transportation’s April safety campaign includes partners across the province who are educating drivers about the dangers of speeding.
Speeding reduces the effectiveness of seatbelts and other safety devices such as air bags, increasing the probability of death or injury in a collision. Driving even 10 km/h over the posted speed limit affects your ability to slow down or stop with short notice, or steer safely around curves or objects on the road.
“When you slow down, you increase the safety of you and your passengers as well as other motorists on the road. We want everyone to arrive safely wherever they are going, even if it takes a few more minutes to get there.”
Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation
Over five years, from 2008 to 2012, 480 people were killed and 12,653 people were injured in speed-related collisions.
“Unsafe speed is a major contributing factor to collisions on our highways. Drivers who speed are placing all road users at risk, as higher speeds require longer stopping distances and increase the force of the impact.”
Superintendent Howard Eaton, OIC “K” Division Traffic Services
Speed Facts
Speeding reduces the effectiveness of seatbelts and other safety devices such as air bags and side impact beams.
A vehicle travelling at 50 km/h takes 37 metres to stop, while one moving at 110 km/h needs 126 metres to stop, nearly three times the distance.
When travelling on snow-covered or icy roads, motorists need longer distances to stop in an emergency.
Heavy rain/standing water can also create conditions ideal for hydroplaning, in which a layer of water builds up between the road and tires, affecting a motorist’s ability to stop.
Demerits for speeding range from two points (exceeding the posted limit by less than 15 km/h) to six points (exceeding the posted limit by more than 50 km/h).
Pinoy Edmonton News 