The number of fatal injuries from traffic accidents is highest in 24 year olds, according to an analysis of the Government of Canada’s Annual Road Safety Report from 2014 to 2017.

Since Ottawa is a city that has three major post-secondary institutions, young adult residents are worried about what this means for the future of their driving.

On Nov. 14th, 2017 around 5:30 p.m., Hannah Anderson’s car was rear ended at the intersection of Bronson Avenue and Kippewa Drive. Anderson was 21 years old at the time.

“I ended up rear-ending the car in front of me because of the impact my car faced,” she said.

Just two weeks earlier to Anderson’s accident, the Ottawa Police Service released a statement saying, “the Gatineau Police Service and Ottawa Police Service’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) will focus on red light running and stop sign violations during the month of November.”

STEP is implemented under the Safer Roads Ottawa program, which aims to reduce collisions on Ottawa’s roads, raise public awareness of road safety issues, integrate the work of City departments responsible for road safety, and improve communication, cooperation and collaboration among road safety agencies, according to the Ottawa Police Service.

“Intersections during rush hour are always a scary place to drive through, but traffic controls do seem to help with accidents,” said Anderson.

The now 22-year-old is currently working in Alberta and says the province uses photo radar for speed, red lights, crosswalks, and school zones.

“These extra precautions are helpful to catch dangerous drivers and in correcting their bad habits which can cause collisions,” she said.

Ontario is working towards creating new opportunities to help drivers combat unnecessary collisions and establish safer roads for both drivers and pedestrians.

“Ottawa residents have identified traffic safety as a top priority. The Safer Roads Ottawa Program is committed to using available resources to make Ottawa roads safer for residents,” said the Ottawa Police Service.

Although the Ottawa Police Services’ goal is to increase road safety for Ottawa’s citizens, there is still a lot that needs to be done to help those affected by past collisions heal from the trauma.

“I was scared to get behind the wheel of a car and it took a lot of courage to finally get my driver’s license,” said Alexandria Ouellette.

Ouellette was in the passenger seat of her mother’s car when it was hit by a truck which sped through a red light.

“The car completely flipped over, we were lucky to only leave with a few bruises and cuts from the glass but the fear I felt remained for a long time,” she said.

As the city continues to progress and move forward with extra precautions like STEP and encouraging residents to regularly report accidents, the idea of safer roads being implemented encourages young drivers to come to terms with their experiences.

“I had to do several weeks of physiotherapy to help with my injuries, and the amount of stress I felt was overwhelming, but I am learning to be more confident in my driving again,” said Anderson.

“I’m a lot more careful driving in rush hour now, but as careful as I am I don’t have the ability to control other drivers.”

The number of fatal injuries as a result of traffic accidents in Ottawa has increased by 45 per cent since 2015.

“As hard as we try, accidents can’t be eliminated. It’s from human error that they start and the only way it can be helped is if the city takes precautions,” said Ouellette.