An Airdrie driver has been charged under the Traffic Safety Act after a 12 year old girl was struck in a crosswalk on Meadowbrook Drive near Mayfair Close in the city’s eastern quadrant at 8:05 a.m. on Sept. 26.
EMS Spokesman Stuart Brideaux said the girl did not suffer any serious injuries but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
“She was on a bike. (The collision was) very, very low speed. She was in extremely stable, non life-threatening (condition with) minor soft tissue injuries. We did take her to the Alberta Children’s Hospital,” Brideaux said.
“The vehicle may have been moving from a stop. It was more like a bump or a push than a strike,” he added.
“Regardless, if under any circumstance a pedestrian is even nudged or pushed over by a vehicle, it elicits a certain level of response from EMS until proven otherwise. The differences in mass are just too great to ignore.”
The driver has been charged with Failing to Allow a Pedestrian to use a Crosswalk Safely under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act. Airdrie RCMP Media Liaison Constable Jason Curtis said RCMP will not identify the driver because he or she has not been charged under the criminal code. The traffic charge comes with a $115 fine. According to Curtis, the driver will not be required to make a mandatory court appearance.
Taking action
The Airdrie City View received multiple emails on Sept. 29 from residents concerned with “poor driving habits in the city,” particularly in school zones.
Deputy Mayor Allan Hunter urged the commander of the Airdrie RCMP detachment Inspector Gordon Sage in an email sent to the Airdrie City View to consider doing a ticket blitz. In the email Hunter said he had received a number of complaints from residents about speeding in school zones as well as elsewhere in the city, and drivers ignoring stop signs and red lights.
“I am very concerned we will have a fatality soon if we do not put the hammer down, including (implementing a process for) public education,” Hunter said in the email.
Attempts to contact Hunter for further comment were not returned by press time.
Sage said he’d reviewed the number of incidents in Airdrie since the beginning of 2014 that involved a collision and could not pinpoint any specific trouble areas.
“I pulled the stats on collisions and problem areas and there really wasn’t any specific area that I can say is worse than any other,” Sage said. “We’re going to do more increased enforcement in all areas in the upcoming weeks.”
According to Sage, there has only been one collision in a school zone since the start of the 2014 school year.
“I looked specifically in school zone areas to see if there was more incidences and there really isn’t,” he added.
“I do understand the concerns and we’re going to do more enforcement to target all areas.”
Airdrie RCMP and Airdrie Municipal Enforcement increased their patrols in school zones starting on Sept. 30, according to a press release issued by RCMP.
“Airdrie RCMP and Airdrie Municipal Enforcement will be firmly enforcing traffic violations in school zones,” Curtis said. “All officers are mandated to perform traffic stops in school zones and issue tickets to violators. These efforts are to create a safe environment for students.”
School zones are in effect in Airdrie from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days.
Some offences RCMP will be ticketing include failing to stop at a stop sign, which carries a fine of $287, distracted driving, which carries a $172 fine, failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, which carries a $575 fine and four demerit points, and parking in a bus zone, which has a $85 fine.
School bus safety
Another resident, who identified himself as John in an email sent to the Airdrie City View, said speeding wasn’t the only issue plaguing the city’s pedestrians.
“I have seen lots of articles on back-to-school zones but none on going through the lights on a school bus. I have seen several cars that did not stop for the red lights. I believe this is a six-point demerit plus a fine. I would like to see a reminder to all drivers on how to handle school bus lights.”
Alberta Transportation made back-to-school safety their focus for September. According to their website, saferoads.ca, “When approaching a school bus with red lights flashing on an undivided highway - you must stop. The fine for passing a school bus with its red lights flashing is $402 and six demerit points.”
Sage said there have been no incidences involving a motorist failing to stop for a school bus reported to RCMP or observed by officers so far this school year.
More information about road safety is available at saferoads.ca
If you have any information on any crime, call the Airdrie RCMP detachment at 403-942-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
