With pedestrian fatalities climbing in Edmonton, advocates call for safer infrastructure

Traffic fatalities in Edmonton are on the rise. The latest of which happened Monday night.

Police say a 78-year-old man driving a Volkswagen Tiguan swerved across westbound lanes of 106 Avenue and went over a curb before colliding with a traffic light near 75 Street.

He died in hospital, and police believed the driver had experienced a medical episode.

With this latest death, 2025 traffic fatalities have reached 31 so far, prompting advocates and the new mayor to call for improved road safety and law enforcement.

“No amount of death is acceptable in this context,” said Natalie Darrah, the board member of Paths for People.

One the latest traffic fatalities happened Saturday morning here at this intersection of 153 Avenue and 82 Street in North Edmonton. Police said a woman was walking her dog at a marked crosswalk when she was struck and killed by a vehicle that was making a left turn at the intersection.

“When we see the numbers going up, we know there must be something that’s causing that and so whether that is a poor infrastructure in certain areas, whether it’s behavioural, whether people are speeding more, whether there are distracted driving. All could be contributing to this,” said Darrah.

Saturday’s tragic incident claimed the life of a 58-year-old woman after she suffered life-threatening injuries. She was transported to hospital by paramedics but died later that day. Police said speed and alcohol are not considered factors.

“There’s always a number of factors that contribute to a collision occurring whether it’s darkness, sunlight, in attention either by drivers or by pedestrians themselves,” said Sgt. Richard Windover, EPS Major Collision Investigations Section.

New data from police showing a total of 31 traffic deaths so far this year, 11 of those involving pedestrians. It’s the highest since 2016, with 23 traffic-related fatalities, including 10 pedestrian deaths. Fatalities dipped during the pandemic years but have been on the rise since 2023.

Mayor Andrew Knack is calling for a dedicated traffic safety team, modelled after a similar one done in Calgary.

“I’m going to continue to push for that. That’s something i like to see approved during this year’s approved budget deliberations,” said Knack.

Police say of the traffic fatalities so far this year, 45 per cent involved speeding. Knack reassuring the city’s pledge to vision zero to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2032.

“The loss of photo radar has had a measurable impact on speed being travelled on our local roads and our main roads. I get the provincial government was concerned of misuse, but in edmonton we always used those fines to help pay for other traffic safety initiatives,” said Knack.

Michael Janz, Councillor for Ward Papastew, said, “The minister’s decisions to remove photo radar and not provide an alternative it’s not what you take away it’s what you leave behind. And they basically left behind anarchy.”

Alberta’s Transportation Ministry tells CityNews that they take road saftey seriously.

“Through initiatives like the $13-million traffic safety fund, stronger enforcement tools, and public awareness campaigns, we’re investing in safer infrastructure and encouraging responsible driving behaviour,” said the Transportation Ministry in a statement.

But with 31 fatalities already, Paths for People thinks more needs to be done.

“We have to look at our options as far as enforcement and the infrastructure and to explore all these options to their full extent would be the wiser choice here,” said Darrah.

Another piece of the puzzle, police say, is for everyone to be vigilant when driving or walking.

“Even if you have the right of way, if you’re involved in a serious collision, that not gonna make you feel any better,” said Sgt. Windover.