CALGARY, (July 28, 2005) — The Alberta advocacy group for the province’s motorists wants the government to take action on what it says is the “alarming number of vehicle crashes and fatalities on Alberta’s roads.”

The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) has received numerous enquiries from concerned citizens demanding to see change regarding the state of traffic safety in Alberta — which the group says has the highest casualty rates in the country.

“We are getting the message and it’s loud and clear,” says Don Szarko, with the AMA’s Advocacy and Community Services division. “Albertans want the government to take action to stop the carnage on Alberta’s roads.”

The AMA wants the government to begin implementing the nine recommendations in The McDermid Report, Saving Lives on Alberta’s Roads. The government endorsed these recommendations last year and indicated they would play a role in developing a Provincial Traffic Safety Plan.

The recommendations, as outlined in the report, are:

— Establish a provincial mechanism to provide leadership, direction, coordination and evaluation of road safety initiatives in Alberta.

— Develop and implement a comprehensive road safety plan for Alberta with clearly defined objectives, strategies and work plans tailored to meet provincial and local needs.

— Establish a sustainable source of ongoing funding for road safety initiatives in the province.

— Expand research and the availability of comprehensive, timely information about road safety in the province.

— Establish specific targets consistent with Road Safety Vision 2010 and report regularly on progress in achieving those targets.

–Engage Aboriginal leaders and elders in the development of targeted strategies to reduce the rates of collisions, injuries and fatalities among Aboriginal people.

–Take advantage of advances in technology provided the objectives are directly related to improving road safety.

— Ensure that adequate resources are available to provide effective enforcement on Alberta’s roads and highways.

— Undertake a thorough review of current driver education and driver examinations in the province.

“Our members and the public have expressed concern with the recent number of tragedies on Alberta roads and are calling for action,” says Szarko.