After the warmest October on record, most of Edmonton was hit with three to six centimeters of snow, CTV News Edmonton chief meteorologist Josh Classen said, with spots in the southeast getting between 10 and 15 centimeters. “Due to the melting and freezing that occurred prior to the accumulation, roads and sidewalks are slippery in many areas,” Classen said. As the snow tapers off Wednesday night, the first annual wave of collision snowfall will likely continue through rush hour and into the night — sending the city’s drivers to one of two new collision reporting centers in Edmonton. The Edmonton Police Service said between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. as of Wednesday, 383 people had reported to a crash reporting center.
“TAKES HOURS”
Lee Harris, director of operations with Accident Support Services which runs the centres, said the northern site had seen several – expected – waves of accidents during the day and expected more to come throughout the evening. “We’re expecting this afternoon, we’re expecting it to be pretty high traffic at six to eight,” Harris said. The centers launched in September and are designed to make conflict reporting more efficient. People involved in an accident bring in their cars to be photographed and any damage documented and then file a report. Harris said the average wait time is about 15 to 20 minutes after the photos are taken, but Wednesday morning drivers were lined up on the road around 9 a.m. and wait times approached 45 minutes. However, Mohammed Dawood said he spent much more trying to file a report after he was involved in a morning accident. Dawood said the photography portion of the fair went quickly, but waiting for a booth and filling out the 100-question questionnaire took more than four hours. “This process, and composition, takes hours,” Dawood said. “It’s not easy. So a lot of people who are older here, they’ve had problems and like everybody’s been going around trying to help each other.” Harris said drivers can finish faster by having their license, registration and proof of insurance with them. And, on days like today, anyone who can wait will have to wait. Harris said drivers have 24 to 48 hours after a crash to report it to a center. “So if you don’t necessarily need to be here today, then you don’t need to be here today,” he added. Police are still involved if a collision involves death, serious injury, criminal activity, pedestrians or property damage, and officers said 62 collisions were reported to EPS in the past 24 hours, including 23 accidents. Road conditions remain poor across the Edmonton area and police said residents should only travel Wednesday night if absolutely necessary. If they must travel, EPS Traffic Safety Unit Sgt. Kerry Bates said drivers can help keep the number of accidents down by taking some simple precautions when snow starts to fall. Always make sure the lights and windows are off and visible, Bates said, and give yourself extra time to get to your destination. If you’re not confident on major roads, you should plan alternate routes on side roads and drive in the slow lane where possible, he said, and experienced drivers should watch their speed. “If you’re a new driver, drive to your experience, your expertise, don’t try to follow traffic if it’s beyond your ability,” he said. “You just have to take that responsibility to slow down and drive in the conditions.”
SNOW REMOVAL
Another new program will be tested starting Wednesday as the city of Edmonton unveils its new snow and ice removal plan with the help of some extra cash. Parks and Road Services received $4.7 million in funding this fall, and Superintendent Valerie Dacyk said the money means more crews and equipment will be out this winter. He said crews have been working since last night to apply traction materials to priority areas, including intersections, bridges and hills, and will work 24 hours a day during and after the snowfall. “As always, safety is our priority and Edmontonians should expect to see an improved experience, so our goal is to get more areas cleaned up faster,” said Dacyk. He added Edmontonians can help snow removal efforts by driving carefully and keeping cars moving during the parking ban. “We’re just getting into the winter season, so we’re asking everyone to drive safely out there, give our crews room to work and drive according to the conditions,” he said. “The first snowfall of any season is always a challenge, but crews have been preparing for this (snow) for the past few weeks.” A new no-parking notification tool is available online and Dacyk is encouraging drivers to sign up as soon as possible. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s David Ewasuk and Joe Scarpelli
