Deadly year on Ottawa roads
Officials fear 2010 could top 2007 numbers
This year is shaping up to be the deadliest on Ottawa roads in the past decade, police and city officials say.
So far in 2010, 35 people have died in motor vehicle accidents and officials fear the tally could top the 39 people who were killed on Ottawa roads in 2007.
Police and city traffic specialists are trying to determine why the numbers are growing again after they declined following the alarming death toll in 2007.
"It has not been a good year. This is quite high for the City of Ottawa," said police Sgt. Derek Menard.
Part of the problem lies with the tremendous growth that the region has experienced. Menard estimates that about 4,500 new drivers and 15,000 new vehicles hit the roads each year.
Enforcement upped
Ottawa police said they have been cracking down on dangerous driving in the city.
Under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, $150 tickets can be issued for infractions like misusing transit lanes intended for OC Transpo buses.
Drivers misusing bus lanes caused 34 collisions in 2009, police said, resulting in one death and 11 injuries.
Police also reported that from 2007-09 drivers caused 76 collisions because they were driving on the wrong side of the roadway. Those crashes caused 39 injuries.
Menard said the vast majority of the drivers involved have been young men — aged 18 to 35 — and most were driving dangerously.
"Numerous fatal collisions that we go to, we see speed as being a problem, we see alcohol involved and we see people making the wrong decisions on the roadway," he said.
Ottawa set up an Integrated Road Safety program in 2003 with the goal of reducing traffic deaths by 30 per cent this year.
"It's frustrating," said Kevin Wylie, who oversees the city's road safety campaign.
The campaign has seen billboards posted across the city, warning that speed can be deadly. Radar signs have also been placed along highways and police have increased their presence on the roads.
But after eight years and about $1 million, Wylie concedes it is time to rethink the strategy.
"I think it's time to refresh the program and to start making it more meaningful and connecting with road users," he said.
City staff plan to toughen up the message, with harder hitting billboards. They also plan to take the message to social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to try to target young drivers.
The road safety program will be reviewed at city hall in the spring.