Sitting adjacent to the Greater Toronto Area and plotted among several rural highway routes, the city of Guelph provides essential commuter traffic traveling both within and throughout city limits.
With green initiatives on the rise, the appropriation of bike lanes and viable public transit has coerced Guelph’s population of approximately 114,000 to thin-out road traffic, in order to alleviate already condensed motorways.
Reported vehicle collision statistics released by Guelph Police Services from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2015 help illustrate the dynamics of vehicle collisions in the city involving other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. What can be surmised from these statistics can ultimately determine the preventative measures that the City employs to keep citizens safe, while preventing unfortunate incidents from occurring.
There were a total of 2,091 reported vehicle collisions during the specified time bracket. Only one vehicle collision resulted in the fatality of a motorist (who was later found to be ability impaired), with a total of 274 non-fatal injuries from the remaining collisions. Sixty-nine drivers were found to be operating their vehicles with an improper license, while 28 more had been driving with suspended licenses.
It would surprise most to know that 87 per cent of all vehicle collisions occurred in ideal environmental conditions. Complacency among drivers ironically causes inattentiveness on the road in these optimal conditions. Nearly one-third of the reported accidents occurred between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The most common occurrences of car accidents in Guelph involved single vehicle collisions with parked cars or roadside property due to inattentiveness (27 per cent); rear-end collisions with another vehicle on the road (24 per cent); and collisions involving sudden turning movements (21 per cent). A majority of car accidents (29 per cent) occurred during the months of January and February, while generally tailoring off during the summer months, before rising once again in September.
Although there were only 27 reported cyclist collisions, there remains evidence of poor decision-making on the part of cyclists when it comes to sharing the road with motorists. Contrary to what most readers might assume, 60 per cent of cyclist collisions happened where the motorist was following the rules of the road. In comparison, on just five occasions, drivers had failed to yield the right-of-way towards cyclists.
A majority of cyclist collisions occurred in the downtown Guelph core. This area also typically experiences busier traffic during daytime hours throughout the week, especially on weekdays. Eleven collisions occurred at intersections throughout the city, and although there were no fatalities in any given case, 22 of the 27 incidents occurred during daylight under normal driving conditions.
There were 26 reported collisions with pedestrians in Guelph, 14 of which occurred at intersections. Twenty-one of these collisions transpired during the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., nine of which occurred between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Six total collisions were recognized as pedestrian error, such as jaywalking or crossing a crosswalk at the wrong time. On three separate occasions, a pedestrian was found to be ability impaired or had been drinking the day of the incident.
While these statistics provide only a brief glimpse of Guelph’s reported vehicle collisions in the last year, it is crucial to take appropriate precautions when walking, cycling, or driving in the city to prevent accidents from transpiring.
Remember to always wear a helmet while riding your bike, and become familiar with proper hand signals so that drivers can adhere to your path on the road. Cyclists should also equip their bikes with front and rear flashing lights to increase visibility to drivers.
As a general rule of thumb—and one that cannot be overstated enough—never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Do not underestimate optimal driving conditions under the assumption that other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians are paying more attention than you are. You have a responsibility to abide by the rules of the road. Do your part to arrive alive and keep our city safe.