Intersection Safety Featured In This Month's Traffic Safety Spotlight

The streets - especially intersections - might be slippery and at times treacherous with that said SGI is focusing on Intersection Safety as January’s Traffic Safety Spotlight.

For January SGI is asking drivers to watch their speeds, not just out on the roads, but especially at intersections where road conditions could lead to longer stopping distances and control resulting in collisions.

A Traffic Safety Spotlight is a monthly focus SGI and police put on certain driving habits in the hopes to not only educate but also to reduce the number of accidents resulting from bad driver behaviour.

The reduction aspect is also usually accompanied by increased enforcement in the area of driving. Drivers also need to realize driving to fast for road conditions is an offense under the Highway Traffic Act.

“A lot is happening at intersections—lights are changing colours, pedestrians are crossing, and vehicles are stopping and going,” Penny McCune, Chief Operating Officer of the Auto Fund said in a statement.

“That’s why it’s so important for drivers to approach them carefully and cautiously.”

On average (2016-2020), 2,503 people are injured, and 31 people are killed at intersections each year.  

Here are the top four leading causes of intersection collisions and some tips from SGI on how to avoid them: 

·         Collision cause: Failure to yield 

o    Prevent it by: Knowing the rules of the road. There are many types of intersections: uncontrolled, controlled, four-way stops, T-intersections and merging onto higher-speed roadways; knowing how to navigate each scenario is key to safe driving. Need a refresher? Click here. 

·         Collision cause: Driver inattention 

o    Prevent it by: Staying alert. As you approach an intersection, pay attention to what other road users are doing, and what the traffic signs and signals are telling you to do.  Watch for pedestrians crossing, and vehicles that are slowing, stopped, turning, or stuck. Anticipate a change of a green light to avoid running through an amber or red light.   

·         Collision cause: Road conditions 

o    Prevent it by: Slowing down when conditions aren’t ideal! By reducing your speed, you will have better control of your vehicle and more time to stop. Scan the road for traction. Look for sand or bare pavement.  Drive in the lane or the part of the lane that offers the best traction. Also, winter tires will give you maximum traction and control. 

·          Collision cause: Following too closely 

o    Prevent it by: Leaving a five to six-second following distance when driving on slippery roads. This, along with driving at an appropriate speed, ensures you (and your vehicle) have enough time to react if the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly. 

 For more handy driving tips check out SGI’s social media - on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.