Building In Safety

Engineering

There is no silver bullet that will end traffic injuries and fatalities. Human error is inevitable and yet unpredictable. Safety engineering is about designing the transportation system to anticipate human error so the consequence is not severe injury or death.

Through ongoing review of collision data, planners and engineers identify and develop projects designed to improve safety on Edmonton streets. These engineering changes provide results that we can document. Here is a simple example: If a mid-block left-turn across a busy road results in 13 collisions each year, by eliminating that turning point, we reduce collisions by 13 and have prevented injuries and possibly deaths.

Engineering improvements to traffic safety include installation of: Protected-only left turn phases at the signalized intersection to reduce left-turn-across-path collisions.

• Pedestrian signals, crosswalk markings, and pedestrian amber flashers at pedestrian crossings to improve pedestrian safety
• Driver-feedback signs to let drivers know if they are speeding
• Retroreflective tapes and additional traffic signal fixtures to improve the signal visibility at signalized intersection
• Right-turn merge redesign to increase visibility and reduce rear-end collisions
• Speed limits set to safe levels

Traffic Safety Reviews

Scona Road Traffic Safety Review

A comprehensive analysis of the traffic safety concerns at the intersection of Scona Road, Saskatchewan Drive and 99 Street is now complete. The City is exploring several engineering measures to improve safety.

Scona Road – Traffic Safety and Speed Mitigation Strategies

Whitemud Drive Speed Limit Review

Based on a comprehensive analysis of the speed limit on Whitemud Drive, the Transportation Committee agreed to leave the speed limit at 80 km/h. The Traffic Safety Assessment and Feasibility Analysis Report, and accompanying documents are available at Transportation Committee Item 6.2.

For More Information

The Office of Traffic Safety