Calgary Police
Last year, 29 Calgarians lost their lives in fatal traffic collisions, a 10-year record high. So far this year, an additional 27 people have died on Calgary roads.
Together, the Calgary Police Service and the City of Calgary are expressing deep concern regarding road safety and road-user behaviour.
As families continue to navigate the busy back-to-school season, there are more motorists, pedestrians and cyclists on the roads, creating a crucial need for everyone to look out for each other.
In partnership with the City of Calgary, we are urging Calgarians to Join the Drive to Zero. As part of the Safer Mobility Plan, we are working together to show the widespread and forever-lasting effects of losing a loved one in a fatal traffic collision.
“This is an alarming trend that absolutely cannot continue,” says Superintendent Jodi Gach of the Calgary Police Service. “This isn’t just about statistics; these numbers are people. People who will never return home to their families again. The impact of serious-injury and fatal collisions is deeply felt by their loved ones and the community as a whole, including family, friends, colleagues, classmates, teammates, first responders, medical professionals and more. This means road safety is a shared responsibility, and we need all Calgarians to do their part to ensure everyone gets home safe every day.”
Starting today, the Calgary Police Service and the City of Calgary are launching the Join the Drive to Zero campaign, consisting of athree-part video series rolled out over the next year, telling the story of one preventable tragedy from multiple perspectives. Our goal is to tell the story of the ripple effect caused by a single tragic incident, ultimately leading to a positive change in driving behaviour to save lives.
By the numbers:
In 2024:
- The Calgary Police Service Traffic Unit conducted a total of 85 traffic investigations related to serious-injury or fatal collisions, which ties with the year 2007 as the highest yearly count on record.
- The majority of fatal collisions occurred in the final quarter of 2024.
- Of last year’s 29 fatal collisions, 13 involved pedestrians and five involved motorcyclists.
- Of the 13 fatal pedestrian collisions, nearly half occurred during evening or nighttime hours.
- Last year, approximately 24 per cent of fatal collisions involved unsafe or excessive speed.
In 2025:
- Of this year’s 27 fatal collisions, eight involved pedestrians and six involved motorcyclists.
- As of this summer, approximately 30 per cent of fatal collisions involved unsafe or excessive speed.
The Calgary Police Service reminds all Calgarians to:
- Use designated crosswalks: Always cross at marked crosswalks or intersections where drivers expect pedestrians. Do not dart out in-between parked vehicles or cross against traffic signals.
- Look both ways: Stop at the curb and look left, right and left again before crossing. Be aware of turning vehicles.
- Follow signals: Obey pedestrian and traffic signals which are designed to keep people safe. Use the pedestrian push button if available to activate the ‘walk’ signal to help drivers see you.
- Watch for multiple lanes: Be cautious of vehicles in all lanes, as one car stopping doesn’t guarantee others will.
- Avoid jaywalking: Jaywalking can be dangerous as drivers may not expect pedestrians to cross mid-block or in unmarked areas.
- Having the right of way does not mean it is always safe to proceed: Motorists and pedestrians should establish eye contact with each other before anyone proceeds.
- Ensure visibility: Keep vehicle lights in good working condition and use headlights in snow and fog. Wearing bright reflective clothing when out after dark helps drivers spot pedestrians and cyclists.
- Adhere to speed limits at all times: Posted speed limits are designed for ideal weather and road conditions. Slow down and allow for extra time to get to your destination if needed.
- Avoid distracted behaviour: Pedestrians and motorists shouldn’t be using electronic devices or headphones when driving or crossing the road.
Road safety is the shared responsibility of everyone. Through our partnership with the City of Calgary, the Safer Mobility Plan was created with the vision of city-wide mobility free of serious injuries using a holistic safe system approach. While we know that collisions are inevitable, the Safer Mobility Plan is a way to help lessen the frequency and severity of traffic collisions.
This requires continued collaboration with community partners and road users, to ensure safe road design, safe speeds, safe vehicles and safe road users.
To report a serious traffic collision, call 911 immediately. For less server collisions, if vehicles are drivable and it is safe to do so, move the vehicles off to the side of the road. To learn more about how to report a collision, visit https://www.calgary.ca/cps/traffic/collisions.html.
To learn more about how you can help ensure safer mobility in Calgary, visit Vision Zero.
