The focus of the Alberta Traffic Safety plan for the month of November is pedestrian safety.
The Jasper RCMP would like to remind all drivers and pedestrians that it is both the driver’s and pedestrian’s responsibility to act safely.
Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, but they also have the responsibility to cross safely. From 2007 to 2011, on average each year in Alberta, about 40 pedestrians were killed and more than 1,210 were injured.
While driving on some of the one-way and two-way double lane roads in and around Jasper, watch for vehicles stopped or slowing in the lane next to yours—they may be yielding to a pedestrian.
More of these crashes occur on a Friday, and the most likely time for these collisions, on any day of the week, is between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Here are some tips for staying safe on Jasper’s roads:
Never jaywalk! Drivers are not anticipating pedestrians crossing in the middle of the street, so they may not have enough time to avoid a collision.
Be seen! Wear brightly coloured or reflective clothing, especially when walking in low light or in poor weather conditions.
Pay attention! When crossing the street, remove headphones and put away cellphones or other electronic devices.
The Jasper RCMP is committed to ensuring the safety of the local residents of Jasper, as well as visitors to Jasper National Park. Part of this commitment has involved a focused approach on traffic enforcement within the town of Jasper, and on the area’s highways.
It has come to my attention, as the acting detachment commander and operations NCO, that a small number of local residents may be unhappy about receiving violation tickets for driving infractions, and that there seems to be this shared idea among these residents that because they have lived in the community for a long time, the traffic laws of Alberta do not apply to them.
I want to remind these people that the traffic laws of Alberta apply to everyone, and that the Jasper RCMP will not overlook violations of the Traffic Safety Act based on a person’s address or length of time as a resident of our community.
If you don’t want to wear your seatbelt or you believe you do not have to come to a complete stop at a stop sign or that you do not have to follow the other rules of the road, then rest assured you may get a ticket. If you do not accept this reality then you may want to walk or ride a bike—both are great ways to keep fit and are good for the environment.
I would also like to remind residents that everyone shares the responsibility of keeping our community safe. The last thing we want is for one of our residents to be seriously injured or killed in a preventable motor vehicle collision.
Please remember, seat belts save lives. Please report all impaired drivers by calling 911.
 Cpl. Ryan Gardiner
Special to the 51°µÍø
