Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/53603
working for you Traffi c Safety Talk-Back You sounded off about Alberta's road safety culture — and AMA listened M OST ALBERTANS THINK THEY'RE pretty good drivers. But most are also concerned about their safety on the road, and when it comes to explaining why, they're quick to point a fi nger at the other guy. These are a few of the fi ndings from a telephone survey AMA carried out in March 2011. The survey grilled 1,200 Albertans on traffic safety topics ranging from driving behaviour to collision causes. "The goal was to monitor changes in Albertans' perception about traffi c safety culture," says Don Szarko, director of AMA Advocacy and Community Services. "It's important to understand perceptions and align our advocacy efforts to make the roads safer for everyone." Who, me? Of the Albertans polled, 74 per cent rated themselves as very good or excellent driv- ers, but only 34 per cent ranked other driv- ers' skills as highly. Some 38 per cent said they believe specifi c groups of drivers cause the majority of collisions. The majority of respondents also said they believe (cor- rectly) that the most common causes of collisions are impairment, distraction and speeding. Yet 52 per cent admitted to the sins of speeding, talking on the phone while driving and texting behind the wheel. "Obviously, the numbers don't quite add up," says Szarko. "When we take responsi- bility for our own actions behind the wheel, instead of making excuses, we can start to make a difference." AMA on the case For more than 80 years, AMA has been working with government, industry and community stakeholders to advocate for safer roads. Gauging public perception is just the fi rst step, says Szarko: "The next is working with traffic safety partners to create the kind of public awareness that leads to safer driving habits and reduces collisions." Read on to learn how AMA is doing just that. Dave Pattinson/All Canada Photos Traffi c safety is a 'top three' issue of concern, according to 83% of participants in AMA's 2011 Traffi c Safety Barometer Survey. Speeding: More time to react Choosing the right speed – not just the posted limit, but the appropriate speed for conditions – is critical to reducing crashes. AMA works tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding. "Whether you're a new driver or an experienced road warrior, and whether it's a sunny summer day or a cold winter night, speeding gives you less time to recognize and react to road hazards," says Szarko. Not only does excessive speed increase your chance of a collision, it signifi cantly lowers your chance of surviving that collision. In 2006, AMA worked with its traffi c safety partners to launch Give Us Room to Work, which advocates for an amendment to the Traffi c Safety Act that requires drivers to slow down when passing emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police cars and tow trucks. Impairment: None for the road In 1984, AMA launched its fi rst alcohol edu- cation course. AMA has delivered interven- tion programs to convicted impaired drivers on behalf of the Alberta government for more than 25 years. Its None for the Road cam- paign shares the message that if you're driving, even one drink is too many. AMA encourages drivers to plan ahead for safe rides and promotes the use of real-time mobile technology, such as the taxiguy.com app, to help Albertans avoid drinking and driving. Distraction: One task at a time Alberta's distracted driving legislation passed last year, but AMA has been lobbying for a change in the province's laws for the past decade. "We know that driver inatten- tion is a contributing factor in more than 80 per cent of collisions, and according to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study, drivers are 23 times more likely to be in a collision when they're texting behind the wheel," says Szarko. In partnership with law enforcement and victim services stakehold- ers, AMA encourages Albertans to make a commitment to driving distraction-free at: YourPledge.ca. LEARN MORE ONLINE Find out more about how AMA is working for you. AMAAdvocacy.ca WESTWORLD >> FEBRUARY 2012 15