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Updated November 03, 2006 4:21 PM
A made-in-Alberta Traffic Safety Plan is designed to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries in the province.
The plan outlines initiatives to help prevent collisions, build safer roads, enforce traffic laws and better teach Albertans about traffic safety. This includes:
- $5 million a year for three years for communications, education, enforcement and research
- $42.2 million over three years for road enhancements
- $4.6 million to hire 42 Traffic Sheriffs
- more funding details
Many initiatives in the plan have already been put in place. These include:
- Legislation to help protect police officers, firefighters, ambulance workers, tow truck operators and construction workers on Alberta’s roads.
- Hiring Traffic Sheriffs to help the RCMP patrol highways.
- Advertising campaigns on impaired driving, speeding, intersections, school bus safety and back-to-school safety for children.
- Joint Force CheckStops throughout the province.
Other recommendations in the plan include:
- Publicizing police programs to increase the perceived risk of being caught and raise awareness of traffic safety issues.
- Consulting with key community leaders and elders on traffic safety strategies in Aboriginal communities.
- Reviewing driver exams and driver education and training on an ongoing basis.
- Enhancing the Graduated Driver Licensing Program.
- Increasing police resources to further deter drivers from impaired driving, speeding and other high-risk driving habits.
- Considering new laws in areas such as seat belts, impaired driving, speeding, intersections, rural roads, commercial vehicles, young drivers and riders, high-risk drivers and aging drivers.
- Installing shoulder and centre-line rumble strips on major highways.
All strategies in the Traffic Safety Plan will be continually evaluated to understand what works, what doesn’t and what needs to be changed.
The Traffic Safety Plan was developed in response to an independent review of the government’s traffic safety programs. The goal of the review was to find the most effective ways to change driver habits and reduce collisions.
More information
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