‘These deaths were preventable’: Calgary officials, police speak out on traffic fatalities

Calgary police say the 10-year-high number of traffic fatalities can be largely attributed to distracted driving.

As traffic fatalities drive toward a new record high, Calgary officials and police are reminding residents road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

There have already been 5,164 collisions in the city this year. Eight people have been killed, including three pedestrians.

That’s a 10-year high and twice as many fatalities as this time last year.

An ongoing video campaign is trying to show Calgarians the crashes didn’t need to happen.

“These deaths were preventable,” said Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward with the CPS traffic unit.

“I know a lot of people think to themselves that it will never happen to them, but they’ve got to be aware of what they’re doing when they’re in a vehicle.”

Woodward says the two most common problems on the road right now are speeding and distracted driving.

As morbid statistics trend in the wrong direction, he’s hoping less “passive driving” will make a big difference.

Late last year, police and the City of Calgary launched the Drive to Zero campaign.

It consists of a three-part video series telling the story of one preventable tragedy from multiple perspectives.

The third and final video was rolled out Thursday, showing a funeral director lamenting a loss.