Winter weather factors in fatal crashes in Alberta; police urge road safety
The number of road fatalities across Alberta continues to climb this winter, as police and road safety advocates point to challenging driving conditions caused by snow and icy roads, impaired driving and risky behaviour behind the wheel as key contributors.
According to the RCMP, there have been 23 fatal collisions in RCMP-policed areas in Alberta between Jan. 1 and Feb. 19, 2026, resulting in the deaths of 26 people.
“We were double the accidents from last year, but you have to be reminded that last December we didn’t have all the snow that we had this year for winter,” said Cpl. Teri-Ann Bakker, public information officer with the Alberta RCMP.
Bakker said while the total number of road fatalities so far this year is basically in keeping with the province’s annual average of 200 to 250 traffic deaths, the number of traffic-related deaths in December 2025 marked a sharp increase compared to the previous year.
(Mike Symington/CBC)
In December 2025, RCMP jurisdictions in Alberta recorded 20 fatal collisions, more than double the nine reported in December 2024.
“Over 70 per cent of them are directly attributed to poor weather and road conditions,” said Bakker.
She said RCMP data shows roughly 30 per cent of collisions each year involve alcohol or drugs. Impaired driving remains a top enforcement priority, alongside speed, seatbelt compliance, intersection safety and distracted driving.
“Believe it or not, when I was in traffic, I pulled people over for reading books,” Bakker said. "They were reading books. There's people that were watching movies. There were people who were putting on makeup."
Recent fatal crashes in Edmonton prompt safety advice
According to the Edmonton Police Service, two fatal collisions have taken place in Alberta’s capital so far in 2026. EPS said there has been an upward trend in the number of fatal collisions in Edmonton in recent years: 32 fatal collisions occurred in 2025, up from 26 in 2024 and 24 in 2023.
An undated file photo of a snowy day in Edmonton. Parts of Alberta saw some of their wettest Decembers in years in 2025. (Wallis Snowdon/CBC)
On Edmonton’s ring road, there have been two fatal incidents in recent weeks. On Feb. 8, a person died on Anthony Henday Drive while changing a tire, and on Jan. 26, a person was killed when their broken-down car, in the outer lane of Anthony Henday Drive east of Heritage Valley Trail, was rear-ended by a pickup truck.
Debbie Hammond, executive director for Safer Roads Alliance, spoke about how needing to pull over to the side of the road can also result in dangerous situations that drivers may underestimate.
She had advice for drivers on what to do if they need to pull over.
“Put your hazards on, get off the highways if you can. … If you can drive the car [towards an] off-ramp [and] onto a safe, quiet road, do that.”
Hammond said recent tragedies on major routes underscore the need for greater awareness and stronger policy. In the past, she said, a combination of enforcement campaigns, public education and automated traffic monitoring helped deter dangerous behaviour.
The story was originally written by Amal Mohamud and published for CBC News.