NB 975
Oct. 3, 2002
FREDERICTON (CNB) -- The Departments of Public Safety and Transportation are taking steps to slow down Route 7 drivers in an effort to reduce moose-vehicle collisions along that highway.
Statistics collected in the past month on Route 7 indicate that 87 per cent of drivers are exceeding the 100 kilometres an hour speed limit during the day, and 80 per cent of drivers are exceeding the speed limit at night.
The average speed both day and night is 110 kilometres per hour, but more than 40 per cent of drivers are travelling faster than 110 km/h per hour during the day and 35 per cent of traffic exceeds 110 km/h at night.
To try and reduce Route 7 speeds, the two departments are initiating a pilot project involving signing and brush cutting on a 40 kilometre section of Route 7 between Geary and Welsford.
Warning
signs to be installed. (Large photo.)
Department of Transportation employees will install two 3.6 metre by 2.4 metre signs with flashing lights at each end of the 40 kilometre section of highway. Other 3 metre by 1.2 metre warning signs will be installed at 10 kilometre intervals. Standard moose warning signs will be installed at five kilometre intervals.
Discussions are underway with CFB Gagetown for approval to clear extra widths on sections of Route 7 where brush and trees have encroached on the highway to increase visibility.
"Reducing speed, especially at night, is the first step to preventing any accident," said Transportation Minister Percy Mockler. "At slower speeds, drivers have more time to respond when they see a moose on the road."
Public Safety Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney also announced that starting Oct. 7, radio and television ads will be broadcast throughout New Brunswick to promote tips for avoiding moose-vehicle collisions. These advertisements will run for a 3 week period to supplement the other promotional efforts such as brochures, posters and an educational video.
Public
Safety Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney and Transportation Minister Percy Mockler.
(Large photo.)
In addition, Blaney said the RCMP and a number of New Brunswick police forces will also participate in Operation Impact on Oct. 5. This involves public education and enforcement efforts related to seat belt use, impaired drivers and speeding and moose/vehicle collision prevention in target areas.
"We believe that increasing our public awareness campaign to include radio and television advertising and increased enforcement efforts in target areas will raise awareness of the need to slow down, to pay attention to warning signs and use extreme caution in areas that are at high-risk for moose accidents," Blaney said.
Blaney added her department would evaluate the results of the public awareness campaign to determine its effectiveness.
Mockler said his department would continue its efforts to evaluate various methods of preventing moose-vehicle accidents across the country, including the Electrobraid fence project being piloted in Belledune and other new technologies.
02/10/03
MEDIA CONTACTS: Ron Akerley, communications, Public Safety, 506-444-5267; Tracey Burkhardt, director of communications, Transportation, (506) 453-5634.
02/10/03
