Over the last year, the local RCMP detachment has focused its traffic enforcement efforts on reducing the amount of harm caused at intersections. The results of those efforts are significant.
From April 2016 to March 2017, the Prince George RCMP conducted an enforcement and education campaign targeting high risk behaviours at or near high-frequency collision locations in our community.
Utilizing 2013 data derived from our partners at ICBC, the RCMP looked at all collisions that occurred at these high-frequency locations.
The Top 10 locations in Prince George where collisions occurred most frequently in 2013 were:
- Domano Boulevard and Tyner Boulevard at Highway 16;
- Highway 97 and Central Street at 15th Avenue;
- Ferry Avenue and Highway 16;
- Highway 16 and Highway 97;
- 15th Avenue and Patricia Boulevard at Victoria Street;
- 20th Avenue and Victoria Street;
- Konrath Road and Westgate Road at Highway 16;
- 15th Avenue and Ospika Boulevard;
- 20th Avenue at 17th Avenue and Carney Street at Massey Drive;
- Cowart Road and Vance Road at Highway 16.
In order to reduce the number of collisions at these high-frequency locations and increase safety for all road users in Prince George, the Traffic Services Section focused efforts on these locations and specifically targeted these contributing factors:
- Impaired driving;
- Distracted driving;
- Speeding;
- Seatbelt use;
- Intersection-related violations.
As a result of this enforcement and education campaign, the Prince George RCMP have seen a 53 per cent reduction in the amount of collisions at these intersections from the previous year, as outlined in the table below (RCMP data):
We are really happy with these results, but we still have work to do,
said Sgt. Matt LaBelle, in charge of the Prince George RCMP’s Traffic Services Section, in a press release. Ultimately, we want to eliminate all collisions and the harm that they cause.
For this fiscal year, the Prince George RCMP will be focusing their enforcement and education efforts within the corridors leading up to and at the following intersections (based on ICBC’s 2015 data):
- Ferry Avenue and Highway 16;
- Highway 16 and Highway 97;
- Domano Boulevard & Tyner Boulevard at Highway 16;
- Cowart Road & Vance Road at Highway 16;
- Highway 97 and 10th Avenue (new);
- Highway 97 and Austin Road (new);
- Highway 97 and 5th Avenue (new);
- 15th Avenue and Ospika Boulevard;
- Massey Drive and Westwood Drive (new);
- 20th Avenue and Victoria Street.
Although the enforcement focus will be on these locations it will not be limited to these locations. The Prince George RCMP recognize that traffic safety is important in all areas that we police, areas that include other parts of Prince George and rural communities outside of the City.
The RCMP cannot be everywhere at once, so we rely on the public to help increase traffic safety. If you see a dangerous or impaired driver, pull over and call 9-1-1.
The safety of the public is greatly enhanced when we receive information from the public,
said LaBelle. Providing information about drivers that are putting other road users at risk is vital to road safety.
If you see a traffic violation and want to make a report, please call our non-emergency line at 250-561-3300. In order to issue a violation ticket under BC’s Motor Vehicle Act, police require a formal statement and your willingness to attend court. Make note of the time, date & location of the offence, the license plate of the offending vehicle, direction of travel and a general description of the incident. If police are provided with a statement and your willingness to attend court, investigators can follow-up with the registered owner of the vehicle and issue them a violation ticket.
