Recent traffic collisions at the same Estevan intersection have caught the attention of residents, but police say overall numbers remain steady.
Estevan Police Service Inspector Tyler McMillen said that while two collisions at King Street and Peterson Drive in recent weeks may have raised concerns, statistics show a decline in total crashes this summer.
“In quarter two, we saw collisions drop. I think we only had three collisions in June, which was a substantial decrease compared to earlier in the year. In July there were four, and we’ve had four so far in August,” McMillen explained.
He noted that the recent incidents were more noticeable because they required emergency response from police, fire and EMS, as well as tow trucks. “That kind of response tends to grab people’s attention,” he said. Minor injuries were reported in both collisions, and Tuesday’s incident remains under investigation.
McMillen stressed that the crashes are most often caused by drivers simply not paying close enough attention at intersections. “We just want to remind people to slow down, take that extra second at lights, stop signs and yield signs, and make sure they have a good view in all directions,” he said. “That’s the only way we’re going to reduce collisions.”
Alongside collision reports, police have also been dealing with complaints of erratic driving and vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. McMillen said these issues tend to come and go, but with school returning soon, drivers need to be especially alert.
“As kids are walking back to school, intersections and crosswalks are going to be busy,” he said. “It’s important to give the right of way to pedestrians and just be mindful.”
With the final weeks of summer underway, police are urging residents not to let distractions or busy schedules lead to unsafe driving.
“Everybody’s hectic, trying to get things done before school starts,” McMillen said. “We just need people to take it easy and be vigilant so we can reduce collisions as best we can.”