Safety Traffic Team
Creation of the traffic safety team and mandate Traffic Safety Team
The Traffic Safety Team works to keep Calgary streets safe. The team is made up of trained peace officers who work with the Calgary Police. They focus on issues such as noisy vehicles, speeding near schools and in playground zones, mud tracking, unsecured loads, and obstructed visibility due to improperly loaded or maintained vehicles.
The Traffic Safety Team's job is to:
- Reduce noise pollution in problem areas
- Promote safe driving habits
- Enforce both local and provincial traffic laws
The team uses noise monitoring, joint operations, and education campaigns to improve traffic safety and make neighborhoods safer.
Noisy vehicle enforcement
The Traffic Safety Team monitors and tickets vehicles that violate noise bylaws. Noisy vehicles affect everyone – disrupting daily life and impacting well-being.
Be a responsible driver:
- Keep your car or motorcycle in good shape
- Fix noisy exhausts and mufflers
- Reduce your stereo volume and avoid excessive engine revving
- Respect your neighbours
We all contribute to quieter, safer neighborhoods through awareness of how our actions and driving impact others.
Promoting safe driving habits
Calgary’s Traffic Safety Team is dedicated to keeping our streets safe for everyone. This summer, you’ll see them patrolling playground zones and other high-traffic areas, reminding drivers to slow down and follow the rules.
They’ll also be out at community safety events, talking with Calgarians about safe driving habits and how we can all do our part to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.
Enforcing local and provincial laws
The Traffic Safety Team plays a key role in enforcing both Calgary’s bylaws and Alberta’s traffic laws. Whether it’s speeding, ignoring stop signs, or distracted driving, the team is on the streets holding drivers accountable.
Their presence in neighbourhoods, especially around schools, parks, and intersections, helps reduce collisions and encourages safer driving. Safer roads start with all of us driving responsibly.
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Safety Traffic Tips
In collaboration with the City of Calgary’s Mobility, the Safer Mobility Plan aims to enhance road safety, promote sustainable transportation, and reduce traffic-related incidents through a comprehensive, data-driven approach. The Traffic Safety Team aligns with this plan by focusing on specific traffic enforcement measures, such as addressing vehicle noise and improving school zone safety, thereby contributing to a safer and more livable urban environment for all residents.
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Traffic Safety Programs
Whether you're walking, biking, or driving, the City is dedicated to keeping Calgarians safe and moving—both in your community and across Calgary's road network. By working together, we can enhance traffic safety. As responsible drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, we all play a role in making a difference.
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Safer Mobility Plan
The Safer Mobility Plan of 2024-2028 is the first unified plan between the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and the City of Calgary (The City). These two organizations are joining forces as core partners working towards safer mobility and reducing harm on our roadways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Traffic Safety Team, and why was it created?
The Traffic Safety Team is a specialized enforcement unit established under The Safer Mobility Framework to enhance road safety through targeted enforcement, education, and collaboration. Created to address key concerns such as speeding, bylaw infractions, and excessive vehicle noise, the team operates under the Traffic Safety Act and municipal bylaws using The Safe System Approach. By combining enforcement with public education and data-driven strategies, the team aims to improve mobility safety and reduce traffic-related risks in Calgary.
How is the Traffic Safety Team different from the Calgary Police Service?
The Calgary Police Service (CPS) is responsible for enforcing many types of laws, including criminal, provincial, and traffic laws across the city. The Traffic Safety Team, however, focuses only on traffic-related issues like vehicle noise, school zone safety, and certain traffic bylaw violations. While CPS handles a wider range of law enforcement duties, the Traffic Safety Team works with them but focuses on these specific problems. Their main job is to deal with vehicle noise, traffic bylaws, and to promote road safety through education and enforcement, aiming to make the roads safer and life better for Calgarians.
What bylaws and infractions does the Traffic Safety Team enforce?
The Traffic Safety Team enforces bylaws and infractions related to speeding, excessive vehicle noise, parking violations, and other traffic-related offenses. They also address issues like tracking mud onto roadways, unsecured loads posing hazards, and obstructed vehicle visibility. Their enforcement aligns with the Traffic Safety Act and municipal bylaws, focusing on compliance through education and penalties.
What are noisy vehicle concerns?
Examples of noisy vehicle concerns include excessive engine revving, loud stereos, squealing tires, loud mufflers, roaring or explosive sounds, and prolonged or repeated alarms.
Additionally, modifying vehicles to create excessive noise, such as altered exhaust systems, is a violation of the Traffic Safety Act.
How are noisy vehicles measured and what is the criteria?
Peace officers assess objectionable vehicle noise utilizing various factors, including technological measurements, data and information such as location, time of day, volume and duration of the objectionable noise. Officers use roadside testing and measurement devices to measure decibel levels, but decibel readings are not the sole determinant for issuing a ticket. Drivers are responsible for all noise generated by their vehicles.
Will the Traffic Safety Team be responding to emergency situations?
The team will coordinate with CPS and emergency services as needed, such as requesting CPS support for impaired drivers or relaying critical information during enforcement activities.
How can residents report concerns?
Residents can continue to report concerns as they currently do through 311, which allows them to file complaints related to traffic noise, speeding, parking violations, and other traffic safety issues.
For emergencies, an incident in progress or if there’s immediate danger to yourself or someone else, please call 911.
Other traffic concerns can be reported to the Calgary Police Service Traffic Service Request page online.
What are the fines for noisy vehicle violations?
- $270 for operating a vehicle that exceeds the legal noise limit
- $300 for failing to comply during a noise level test
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The City of Calgary NewsroomCity launches new peace officer Traffic Safety Team to improve road safety
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