Alberta traffic stats result in promise to crack down on bad drivers

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EDMONTON, Alta. — Alberta Transport Minister, Dr. Lyle Oberg, says the province will develop a Traffic Safety Plan involving harsher penalties against bad drivers.

The announcement came after the release of a report called Alberta Collision Statistics 2004. The report suggested there has been little improvement in the rate of traffic accidents and fatalities in recent years.

“As the minister responsible for traffic safety, I am relieved things aren’t getting worse, but I am also frustrated that things are not getting better,” said Oberg, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. “That is why I continue to support the development of the Traffic Safety Plan. I am reviewing the proposed plan, including its financial implications, and I will bring recommendations through government shortly.”

It’s expected the plan would involve stiffer penalties for motorists who violate existing traffic laws.

The 2004 report revealed the following: Traffic fatalities increased 0.5 per cent to 387 in 2004; the number of traffic injuries decreased by 6.5 per cent; the number of collisions decreased 0.7 per cent compared to the previous year; and driver error was to blame for about 90 per cent of traffic accidents.

The full report can be viewed at: http://www.trans.gov.ab.ca/Publications/CollisionStats.asp.

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