Changes to Accident Reporting Edmonton
Starting Thursday, if you’re involved in a collision in Edmonton, you’ll no longer report it to the Edmonton Police Service. Instead, drivers will go to one of two private collision reporting centres run by Accident Support Services International (ASSI).
Officials say the change will be more efficient, and there will be no extra cost to taxpayers.
“This has been a long time coming actually, 17 years,” said Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee at a press conference on Thursday.
“It will improve road safety by removing collisions from the roadside faster, it will provide motorists with an enhanced service, and certainly better customer service, and ASSI’s record management system will help us better identify the trends and route causes driving safety issues on our streets.”
Upon arrival at one of the centres, drivers will fill out their report at a kiosk.
Accident Support Services International collision reporting centre in Edmonton.
The report will include photos of the damage to prevent fraud, and will be sent to the insurance company.
The bill for the centres will be paid by insurance companies.
“We put a file together, we send it to them, and they pay us per file. And that’s how we subsidize this whole program,” said Steve Sanderson, ASSI president. “So it’s no cost to the public, it’s no cost to the police, there’s no cost to the municipality.”
The program is already running in smaller Alberta municipalities like Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.
“We’ve been partnered with them for a long time and it has worked so well,” said Mercida Holstein, AMA Insurance claims manager. “What it means for us is - as they said - great customer service because we’re getting our police reports much more quickly than we would.”
Accident Support Services International collision reporting centre in Edmonton.
Police say there are about 34,000 crashes on Edmonton roads annually.
There will be about 10 officers at each ASSI centre to look over reports, but officials say privatizing the reporting will free up other officers to deal with more important issues.
“The public has consistently voiced their want to see their police service use its resources more efficiently,” McFee said.
The centres are located at 15750 116 Avenue and 5805 87A Street.
New Collision Reporting Centres Open in Edmonton
Two new collision reporting centres officially opened on Thursday, with the goal of streamlining the process for minor collisions while also freeing up Edmonton police resources.
The centres are for individuals who’ve been involved in minor collisions. Instead of reporting the crash at an Edmonton Police Service front counter or waiting for police at the collision site, drivers will go to a collision reporting centre and staff will help them complete the police report. The process will include taking pictures of vehicle damage and contacting family members and insurance providers.
EPS counters will no longer process collision reports.
“That’s the message we got to get out to Edmontonians: let’s get them off the street, let’s get them to a safe place,” Edmonton police chief Dale McFee said.
“Let’s get them with professionals that are going to give them good customer service, that are going to make their turnaround time sooner than if they were waiting in a front office that’s balancing the priorities of the assaults, the mischiefs, the frauds. This is an exclusive centre to deal with accidents and they’re experts. It’s like anything else, it’ll take some time, there will be some bumps in the road, but based on history and study and best practices, it’s actually far much more efficient than what we’re doing currently.”
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READ MORE: Edmonton to open 2 collision reporting centres for drivers involved in minor crashes
One centre is located at 15750 – 116 Ave. in north Edmonton and the other is on the south side at 5805 – 87A St. They will be open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They will be closed on statutory holidays.
EPS is working with Accident Support Services International Ltd. (ASSI) on the centres. ASSI is a management company that bridges police and insurance providers by providing post-collision assistance to drivers. It currently operates 41 collision reporting centres across Canada.
“This allows the public to come in at their convenience, within 24 hours,” ASSI president Steve Sanderson said.
1:38High Level Bridge occupies a lot of Edmonton police resources
“The centre also provides early contact between drivers and insurance companies, which speeds up the claims process and delivers additional customer service. So while you’re in the centre, if you wish to report to your insurer, we electronically send that to your insurance company.”
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Technology has come a long way since the time of paper reports and fax machines, Sanderson said Thursday.
“We have created a self-assisted kiosk and because there’s 266 data fields in a collision report, people cannot possibly do this by themselves, so our staff will assist them to get through the process.
“We swipe a driver’s licence — it automatically downloads the information. We take 11 photographs of the car — it automatically downloads it to the file. We have some of our insurance partners that actually get the notice of the loss as (the driver) is in the (centre), reporting… and they’re sending back a text to the consumer saying: ‘We’ve got your claim, here’s your claim number, here’s our phone number, call us when you get home.’ It starts the whole claims process.”
1:44Edmonton to open 2 collision reporting centres for drivers involved in minor crashes
However, drivers must still call 911 for major collisions with injuries requiring EMS, a fatality or criminal activity (impaired driving, stolen vehicle, assault).
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READ MORE: 5 things to do if you’re in a car crash
Edmonton’s police chief believes the streamlined approach will free up officers to respond to higher priority calls, while clearing roadways faster.
“We’re moving resources elsewhere,” McFee said Thursday. “So rather than having to add additional resources, we’re able to move resources to keep up with the demand in some of the areas that we have. We’re getting better service delivery on all sides of the equation. (ASSI) better handling our accidents and also being able to redeploy as we build out towards our 10-squad model, to get more people in our communities. They’re kind of interlocking.”
Back in August, McFee said EPS is always looking for opportunities to improve service delivery and use resources more efficiently.
“It can take several hours from the time a collision occurs to the conclusion of an investigation, which ties up officers and leaves motorists waiting. The centres won’t just improve how we’re using our resources, they’ll also create a safer environment for Edmonton’s motorists by moving the reporting process off the roadway and into a dedicated space.”
McFee said each year, officers respond to and process approximately 34,000 motor vehicle collisions.
“This often boils down to a considerable amount of administrative work,” he said. “They can be some of the most time-consuming tasks our people perform and they happen daily.
McFee also believes the new reporting centres will reduce the strain on EPS staff at division front counters. Processing one minor collision at a police counter takes an average of one hour per incident, the police chief said.
The EPS forecasts this change will remove about 60 per cent of the workload at division front counters
McFee said the collision reporting centres will immediately free up about three officers, with another 10-12 officers potentially being freed up in the near future.
“This is time that officers can be using differently and it’s time and stress Edmonton’s motorists can also be saved. We’ve heard from citizens that they want EPS to focus on crime and emergency aspects of police work,” the chief said.
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McFee said the centres come at no cost to the public or the EPS, as they’re paid for by the insurance providers who support ASSI.
Recent changes to Accident Reporting
Collision Reporting
Effective September 29, 2022, Edmonton Police front counters no longer process collision reports. As part of a partnership between Edmonton Police Service and Accident Support Services International (ASSI), if you are involved in a collision within the City of Edmonton, it must be reported at a Collision Reporting Centre.
Collision Reporting Centre Locations
Edmonton North
Edmonton South
15750 116 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T5M 3S5
780-452-1531
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Closed Statutory Holidays
5805 87A St NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 5Z1
587-758-9427
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Closed Statutory Holidays
What to do if you’re in a collision
Establish if anyone is hurt. If any of the following scenarios apply, call 9-1-1 immediately. Police will respond to these calls:
The collision involves a fatality
The collision involves a serious personal injury where a person is transported to a hospital
Criminal activity is involved in the collision (e.g., impaired driving, stolen vehicle, assault)
Collisions involves a person who is uninsured or is a suspended driver (keep in mind by not having an insurance card it does not necessarily mean the vehicle is not insured)
The collision involves damages to private, municipal or highway property
The collisions involve cyclists or pedestrians who have been injured and require transport to hospital
Take a breath. Keep in mind that this is a stressful situation for everyone involved and to remain calm.
Clear the road. If it is safe to do so and the vehicles can be moved, move all involved vehicles to an area of safety, clearing the road for other drivers.
Assess damage. If the involved vehicles have $2,000 or more combined damage you must report the collision to a Collision Reporting Centre as soon as possible. Failure to report the collision could result in a $405 fine. If motorists are unsure of how much the damage is, they can attend a body shop for an estimate. If damage is very minor, please contact your insurance company to talk about your options.
Exchange information
Record where the collision occurred
The licence plate number, as well as the year, make, model and colour of the other involved vehicle(s).
Exchange drivers licence, registration, and insurance policy and company information.
Confirm the driver’s full name, address, and a phone number from the other involved individual(s).
Take photos. Taking a picture of each other’s information on your cell phone is a quick and accurate way to exchange information in what is a stressful situation. Take photos of the collision scene and damage to your vehicle.
Talk to witnesses. Exchange information with any witnesses, if possible.
Report the collision to a Collision Reporting Centre. If your vehicle is driveable, please attend one of the Collision Reporting Centres with your vehicle as soon as possible. If your vehicle is disabled and requires a tow, a tow company will transport you and your vehicle to the Collision Reporting Centre directly from the scene. Keep in mind if your vehicle requires a tow, you do not need to be there at the same time.
When reporting, bring your documentation with you – driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance.
Keep in mind you MUST report the incident in the jurisdiction where the collision actually took place.
What are Collision Reporting Centres?
As part of a partnership with Edmonton Police Service, Collision Reporting Centres are operated by Accident Support Services International (ASSI) providing a more personalized process and a one-stop shop following a collision, with ASSI staff providing the necessary guidance to file a report in a safe and effective manner.
If motorists have questions, or are unsure of what to do, call the EPS non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 (#377 from a mobile).
5 Tips for Avoiding Reckless Drivers Who are Distracted by Phones
It all begins with an idea.
Reckless drivers are one of the leading causes for auto accidents, and there are fewer ways to drive more recklessly than by using a phone while driving. Sadly, there are many drivers that continue to use their phone when on the road, significantly increasing the chances of an accident as they are too distracted to react safely.
A big issue with these reckless drivers is that you can’t really spot them until it’s too late, as responsible drivers are focusing on driving safely so they may not notice another driver on their phone. Here are some ways to avoid reckless drivers who are distracted by their phones:
1. Safely Observe Other Drivers
This one requires some balance, as you never want to focus too much on another driver while still being mindful of your position and driving. So, be sure to use your mirrors to observe other drivers when it’s safe to do so, every 30-60 seconds if on a busy road, as this gives the best chance to spot someone using their phone and take suitable action.
Always keep your eyes moving and be fully aware of your surroundings!
2. Keep a Safe Distance
This is a good option to avoid reckless drivers in general, as keeping a safe enough distance should help minimize the risk of getting into an accident. For instance, if you stay a few extra car lengths behind a driver you see is on their phone then you have more time to react to their mistakes.
Imagine there is a bubble surrounding your car and you don’t want it to reach a certain distance to other vehicles. No matter how safely you are driving there could be someone in front or behind on their phone, so maintain a safe distance each way when possible.
3. Get Out Their Way
This may sound simple but it does require you to recognize the situation, which is why you should be observing others on the road to determine if they are safely driving. If you spot someone using their phone or think that they are but can’t confirm it, don’t take the risk and just move out of their way.
It requires some patience as you might need to slow down or even speed up to get out of their way.
4. Don’t Speed
Another simple but effective way to avoid drivers distracted by their phone is limiting your speed. This gives more time to properly react to the situation, whether that’s pulling over or getting out of their way, while giving more control over the vehicle should something dangerous happen.
5. Never Drive Tired or Angry
One of the main issues with reckless drivers using their phone is the difficulty in spotting the problem. While the onus is on them to drive safely and not use their phone, the truth is you need to rely on yourself to spot reckless drivers, which is harder to do when you are tired.
Furthermore, driving angry could make the situation worse, as you may react poorly to the other driver and find yourself not focusing either, becoming a reckless driver as well. Stay calm and alert, and if you find yourself getting too annoyed just pull over and take a breather.