Traffic safety: Our right to safe roads

Whether we’re walking the dog, driving our kids to school, or riding our bikes, Edmontonians want to safely move throughout Edmonton. In fact, I’m often contacted by residents about traffic safety — speeding, drivers cutting through residential neighbourhoods, and issues around schools and playgrounds are all frequent concerns.

So, let’s discuss what’s being done to address traffic safety in Edmonton.

Vision Zero

The City uses multiple strategies, including road design, speed limit reductions, and traffic calming measures to enhance traffic safety. Vision Zero is the driving force behind the Safe Mobility Strategy, and the goal is straightforward: zero traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Edmonton’s roads.

Vision Zero acknowledges that no loss of life is acceptable and that traffic fatalities are preventable.

Data shows that this strategy is working. In August 2021, Edmonton’s default speed limit was reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. By December 2023, the city saw 25% fewer crashes and 31% fewer fatalities and serious injuries. Edmonton was also recognized with a Road Safety Achievement Award from the Transportation Association of Canada for our default speed limit reduction. 

Street Labs address neighbourhood concerns by testing out different interventions, gaining data and feedback from the community, and then adjusting or recommending permanent improvements.

Street Labs are currently active or have been implemented in several neighbourhoods in the ward, including Carlton, Dovercourt, Wellington, Woodcroft, and soon, Rapperswill.

I’m glad to see several neighbourhoods in the ward have successfully received traffic infrastructure (both temporary and permanent) as a result of your feedback to my office!

There’s more to come — here’s a list of the planned traffic calming measures in the ward for 2025:

Complete Streets guidelines and roadway upgrades:

As the City invests in major roadways, traffic safety is also a key consideration. Upgrades to Yellowhead Freeway included the removal of  high-collision intersections, to significantly enhance traffic safety and efficiency.

Of course, one of the most cost-effective ways we can address traffic safety is to build this infrastructure right the first time or when we do renewal.

Complete Streets guidelines help us do just that. These guidelines incorporate context-specific design that prioritizes safety and accessibility for all road users. I’ve seen neighbourhoods in the ward that went through neighbourhood renewal before Complete Streets, and now we are funding interventions retroactively — only reinforcing the need to have these standards incorporated when the opportunity for improvement exists. 

Photo radar:

While photo radar can be a tool for road safety, due to changes in provincial regulations, the number of photo radar sites across Alberta have been reduced. These changes mean that enforcement sites are now limited to school zones, playgrounds, and construction sites.

Final thoughts:

There’s been progress to Vision Zero through speed limit reduction, road upgrades, and Street Labs. The Safe Mobility Strategy and Complete Streets guidelines guiding the way we build. Clearly as this is still a frequent concern, there’s more work to be done. 

Join the conversation — I’m always here to listen to your concerns about traffic safety in Ward Anirniq. I’lll continue to advocate for safe roadways in our communities.