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REPORT RAPPORT |
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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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18 January 2011 |
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TO/DEST:
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Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board |
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FROM/EXP:
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Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service |
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SUBJECT/OBJET: |
OVERVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF 2010 COLLISIONS IN OTTAWA |
RECOMMENDATION
Fatal collision experience within the City of Ottawa in 2010 represented a significant increase over the two previous years. Thirty six people died in 32 collisions, as compared to 25 deaths in 22 collisions in 2009 and 23 deaths in 20 collisions in 2008. The mandate of the Police Service in relation to fatal collisions is threefold:
From a broader organizational perspective, the mandate includes enforcement activity, educational initiatives and community consultation aimed at improving road safety.
DISCUSSION
Since 2003, the Police Service has worked closely with City of Ottawa Public Works and with Ottawa Public Health to ensure that collision related statistical data from all three partners was being evaluated as reduction initiatives were being considered. This Program, known as Integrated Road Safety correctly assumed that road safety would be best influenced through a multi faceted approach which would incorporate Education, Engineering and Enforcement.
Public Works serves as the entry point for collision data collection and in the Spring of each year it releases an annual analysis, which incorporates collision data from the OPP for those portions of Highways 416 and 417 within the City boundaries.
Within Public Works, engineers tasked with roadway design regularly review high collision locations to determine whether design modifications would be beneficial. Public Health has access to collision data and engages in analysis of injury type and severity data gathered from hospitals. They also engage in surveys designed to gauge community attitude to a wide range of driving related behaviours.
While the City of Ottawa Public Works group provides in depth statistical analysis annually, the Police Service engages in real time analysis of Fatal Collision data, exclusive of fatal collisions which occur on the 400 series highways.
The data fields analyzed relative to fatal collisions are as illustrated below.
With the objective of analysis being to determine whether trends are identified so that resources can be directed towards focused efforts, virtually nothing stood out as a specific indicator in 2010.
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Day of the Week |
Marginally higher for Sunday and Thursday |
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Time of Day |
Slightly higher during Afternoon and Evening hours |
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Month of Year |
– during the first quarter of the year there were 2 fatal collisions, down 71% from the same period the year previous – in the second quarter there were 12, up 100% from the previous year – in the third quarter there were 13, up 85% from the year previous and – in the fourth quarter, 8, up 60% from the year previous.
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Roadway Location |
- City Road – 34 - Frozen River – 1 - Parking Lot – 1 |
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Victim’s Role |
- Driver 17 - Pedestrian 8 - Cyclist 6 - Passenger 5 |
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Vehicle type
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- Automobiles – 11 - Passenger Van – 3 - Pick up Truck - 1 - Motorcycles – 4 - Motorized Snow Vehicles - 1 - All Terrain Vehicles - 1 - Bicycles – 6
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Victim Age
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- Under 19 – 6 - 20 to 29 – 6 - 30 to 39 – 8 - 40 to 49 – 6 - 50 to 59 – 3 - 60 to 69 – 2 - 70 to 79 – 3 - 80 to 89 – 2 |
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Victim Gender |
- Male – 28 - Female – 8 |
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Victim Condition |
- Ability Impaired – 3 Drivers - Had been Drinking – 1 Driver, 1 Cyclist, 1 Passenger, 2 Pedestrians - Medical or Physical Disability – 1 Driver, 1 Cyclist, 1 Pedestrian
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Victim Responsibility |
Behaviour linked to Cause - Drivers – 12 - Cyclists – 5 - Pedestrians - 3 |
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Environmental Condition |
- Clear – 26 - Rain – 9 - Snow – 1 |
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Traffic Control |
- No control – 25 - Stops Sign – 6 - Traffic Signal – 5 |
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Impact Type |
- Single Motor Vehicle – 12 - Approaching – 10 - Angle – 3 - Rear End – 2 - Turning Movement – 2 - Sideswipe – 1 - Other – 2 |
While statistical analysis would caution against reliance on single year data as reflective of a trend, there is clear cause for concern around the 2010 collision experience. The data below illustrates that there have been at least two other years since 2002 in which spikes of fatal collision activity have reached the 2010 experience.
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2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
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Deaths |
24 |
36 |
28 |
24 |
26 |
35 |
23 |
25 |
36 |
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Collisions |
23 |
33 |
27 |
22 |
25 |
34 |
20 |
22 |
32 |
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With data gathered by the City of Ottawa Public Works department, analysis goes beyond raw numbers and includes a consideration of additional factors such as population, numbers of registered vehicles and numbers of licenced drivers. That full analysis will, as indicated earlier, be forthcoming in the Spring of this year.
The enforcement data available at this point indicates that Traffic Enforcement contacts over the past three years have consistently been in the range of 147,000. Impaired Driving charges were consistant with 2009 figures at approximately 745. RIDE programs over the year resulted in over 22,500 drivers being stopped and checked, which yielded 26 Impaired Drivers and 57 Drivers Licence suspensions.
Not applicable for this report
Not applicable for this report
Fatal collisions and the factors which influence their occurrence are a clear community concern and a significant priority for the Police Service. Going into 2011 there will continue to be a strong focus on analysis which will provide some direction with respect to initiatives that are most likely to produce results. Integrated Road Safety is currently being reviewed by the partner agencies with a view to ensuring that Program composition and mandate are appropriately structured to be most effective. While fatal collision reduction is a desired end, the Police Service and our road safety partners will always dedicate their collective efforts towards the objective of no lives being lost to collisions.
(original signed by)
Vern White
Chief of Police
