Edmonton recorded 32 traffic-related deaths in 2025, and despite campaigns and appeals by police, motorists are not slowing down. That was one of the messages Edmonton Police Chief Warren Driechel shared with city council Tuesday as he reviewed the 2025 annual report. While the crime rate has increased slightly and the violent crime index dropped by a couple of points, several councillors asked Driechel about the surge of severe accidents on Edmonton’s roads.
Speeding Trends and Enforcement Challenges
“We’re not seeing a change in driver behaviour,” said Driechel. “We’re seeing speeds up. Speed reduces reaction time and the mechanics of the crash are worse.” He noted that officers used to detect drivers going 10 km/h over the speed limit in high-traffic areas, but now they regularly see drivers travelling 20 km/h over the maximum.
Driechel stated that officers are writing more tickets and continuing advocacy with the province to allow police to seize vehicles when drivers are caught going more than 50 km/h over the speed limit. Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz asked how many vehicles would be seized if that standard were applied. “A couple per day,” Driechel responded.
In 2025, police issued 89,799 tickets or warnings, up from 74,178 in 2024 and 64,433 in 2023. However, revenue from those tickets has decreased. Driechel said consistent traffic enforcement is difficult. “When it’s Friday night in the city, and then there’s gun calls, then traffic goes by the wayside,” he explained.
Fines Not Acting as Deterrents
The chief emphasized that current fines for speeding and other traffic offences are not deterrents. “When we look at driver accountability, they don’t feel that they are being held accountable,” he said. “So even though they’re getting tickets, maybe the penalties aren’t there, so that doesn’t change behaviour.”
He also attributed the loss of photo radar and automatic enforcement to emboldening drivers to break the law. “I think there’s this false sense of invulnerability that occurs.” Another factor is the prevalence of large pickups and SUVs equipped with safety features like rear-view cameras and warnings, which may make drivers feel overly safe. “I’ve read reports that because the technology has changed, typically in cars, the crash survivability has increased, so people feel safer,” said Driechel. “So it creates this false sense of security in those vehicles. The reality is, the faster you go, your reaction time is reduced.”
Vehicle Seizure and Impound Lot Issues
If vehicles are seized, finding storage space is a problem. Driechel confirmed that the impound lot is full and there is a backlog of vehicles. A major reason for the backlog is that police lost an overflow lot with a capacity of 150 vehicles when construction on Yellowhead Trail began, turning the lot into a staging area for construction materials and equipment.
