Speeds Still Up But Serious Collisions Down

It use to be known for the number of deaths and severe injuries it generated but the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and 9th Ave NW sits in some sort of twilight zone.

The amount of speeders is the same or even more than in the past but the number of serious incidents and injuries has dropped considerably.

“We are seeing no reductions in the numbers (of tickets) but we are seeing an increases in the numbers of violations but here is the anomaly here, we haven’t had a fatal collision,” police Chief Rick Bourassa told the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners. “We haven’t had a serious collision - so it’s working.”

AN ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL RADAR UNIT SITUATED ON THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

“The whole goal behind that was to increase safety.”

Chief Bourassa said the collisions decreased despite an increased in speeders exceeding the 80 kilometres per hour speed limit.

“There use to horrible collisions at that intersection. So, even though the speed is continuing, we are not seeing the collisions.”

Bourassa speculated it was the speeds were just over 80 kilometres an hour.

“I think we are seeing the speeds are a little over. And we’re not seeing the really high ones that would cause someone turning left in front of vehicle that they think is coming 80 (km/hr) but really 120 (km/hr). My guess is that is what we are seeing. But that is pure speculation on my part.”

“Good news harm to people is being reduced,” he said.

Commissioner Doug Blanc - who worked for decades with the Department of Highways said - the stats they were given about speed was not that the accidents went up but the severity of the collision went up.

“Going 100 kilometres per hour or going 110 kilometres per hour made no difference in the number of accidents it did make a difference in the number of fatalities and a noticeable increase in personal injury,” Commissioner Blanc said.

CHANGES TO THE SITE LINES AND IMPROVED SIGNAGE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY (NORTH SERVICE ROAD) AND 9TH AVENUE NW - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

In the media scrum Chief Rick Bourassa was asked by MJ Independent if changes to traffic (reduction of north to south or south to north) on 9th Avenue NW might be the reason for the reduced collisions.

“You know what, it’s possible. I can’t say all I know is traffic is continuing on the Trans Canada Highway…we’re getting now is the time where there will be more traffic with the summer season coming.”

The anomaly continues.

“But what we are seeing are the speeds continue to be a higher number of speed violations there, but we’re not seeing the collisions,” he said.

“The traffic on 9th north there’s not as much crossing and that’s possible (a reason for the lack of collisions.”

This past Sunday MJ Independent sat at the intersection of 9th Avenue NW and the Trans Canada Highway for two hours, and did not see any trucks turn off the North Service Road and enter the highway from 9th Avenue NW.

Semis used the available on ramp to enter the TransCanada highway heading west.

The sign initiative was started by Councillor Crystal Froese a number of years ago at Council.