Imagine driving through Ottawa at rush hour when you spot a collision ahead. It’s a familiar sight in a city where certain intersections see more than their share of serious accidents. Intersection safety is a growing concern for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. In this post, we’ll highlight some of Ottawa’s most dangerous intersections, outline what makes them high-risk, offer practical safety guidance, and explain how our team at Bergeron Clifford can support you if you’ve been injured in a car accident in the city.
Why Intersection Safety Matters
Intersections are common accident spots because multiple traffic flows converge from vehicles turning through traffic, along with pedestrians and cyclists crossing. Key contributing factors include:
- High Traffic Volume: Arterial roads like Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive are at higher risk of collisions.
- Limited Visibility: Skewed angles, merging lanes, and a lack of gaps between cars can make it difficult for drivers to see signs and create driving challenges.
- Road‑Design Issues: A lack of streetlights, footpaths, and bicycle crossings can contribute to accidents.
- Driver Behaviour: Speeding, distracted driving, poor road judgment, and impairment, such as a DUI, can be contributing factors to intersection safety.
- Unsafe Vehicle Conditions: A car that is deemed unsafe to drive, such as issues with tires, lights, brakes, or brake lights, is restricted from driving on the road in Ontario due to a significant risk to intersection safety.
If you’re involved in a crash at a high‑risk intersection, knowing the risk factors that contributed to the collision can strengthen your case if you pursue a personal injury claim.
Ottawa’s Most Dangerous Intersections
When you know specific locations carry elevated risk, you and your loved ones can take extra caution, lowering the chance of serious injury. A few of Ottawa’s most dangerous intersections, according to the latest Ottawa Police Service Report, include:
Intersection 1: Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive
The intersection with the most collisions, Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive, had 96 in 2024. Typically, these occurred in the morning during rush hour, and most happened in February, the coldest month of the year. In addition, rear-end collisions are the most frequent here.
Intersection 2: Carling Avenue and Kirkwood Avenue
This intersection had the second-most collisions in 2024 at 69. Accidents typically occurred in the morning and around 4 p.m. Accident types included rear-end, sideswipe, and turning collisions, mostly occurring on Saturdays in February but also in September.
Intersection 3: West Hunt Club Road and Woodroffe Avenue
Once ranked Ottawa’s most dangerous intersection in 2013, this busy junction saw 60 reported collisions in 2024. While injury numbers have fluctuated in recent years, the risks remain, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists navigating fast-moving traffic and multiple lanes.
Common Causes of Collisions at These Intersections
Data from the Ottawa Police Service reveals the most common collision causes across the city:
- 5,644 rear-end collisions, the most frequent type
- 3,908 turning-related collisions
- 2,403 sideswipes
- 94 incidents involving impaired drivers who lost control
- 79 pedestrian collisions due to drivers failing to yield
- 37 cyclist collisions from right-of-way violations
- Over 2,000 hit-and-run crashes in parking lots
Hazardous conditions like rain, fog, or snow were linked to fewer than 5,000 crashes, while over 16,700 occurred on clear days, highlighting the role of driver behaviour more than weather.
Safety Tips for Drivers
Even when roads appear clear, intersections in Ottawa can become dangerous in seconds. Safe driving habits in Ontario follow three principles: visibility, space, and communication. A few suggestions to put into practice include:
- Reduce speed as you approach any intersection: Slowing down, especially near intersections known for collisions, gives you time to assess your surroundings and respond to sudden changes.
- Keep a safe following distance: Tailgating reduces reaction time and increases the likelihood of a rear-end collision when traffic lights change unexpectedly.
- Avoid distractions: Set your GPS before you leave, and keep your phone out of reach, as intersections demand full attention.
- Adjust for conditions even in clear weather: Ottawa collision data shows that many crashes occur in fair weather, often due to inattention or assumptions.
If you’re injured in any sort of motor vehicle accident despite your best efforts, speak with our team at Bergeron Clifford. We’re here to help you understand your legal options.
Safety Tips for Pedestrians & Cyclists
Drivers aren’t the only ones at risk. Busy intersections often leave pedestrians and cyclists most vulnerable in a collision. In areas like West Hunt Club, where traffic is dense and fast-moving, staying visible and alert is critical:
- Always use crosswalks and obey signals. Even if the intersection appears quiet, never assume vehicles will yield.
- Make eye contact with drivers as you cross multiple lanes. It’s the clearest way to confirm they’ve seen you.
- Wear reflective clothing or use lights at night or in low visibility to enable drivers to act early enough.
- As a cyclist, maintain a visible position in the lane. The Highway Traffic Act recommends that slower vehicles, such as bikes, stay in the right lane or as close to the right-hand side of the road as possible. Be prepared for sudden vehicle turns or door openings, especially near busy intersections.
If you’ve been injured while walking or cycling, Bergeron Clifford can help determine whether poor visibility, signage, or other factors contributed to the incident. We’ll focus on your case so you can focus on your recovery.
How the City is Addressing Intersection Safety
Ottawa is addressing intersection safety through its Strategic Road Safety Action Plan. Over half of all serious and fatal collisions occur at intersections, and the city’s strategies focus on the three Es (engineering, education, and enforcement) to protect vulnerable road users.
Engineering: Infrastructure Changes
- Installing protected left-turn signals which reduce conflict points between vehicles and cyclists.
- Many signalized intersections now have a “Leading Pedestrian Interval” that gives pedestrians a head start by displaying the “walk” signal several seconds before the light turns green for vehicles.
- Improving rural roads by enhancing signage and lighting to enhance safety.
Education: Public Awareness Campaigns
- The “Time is precious” campaign uses ads to address high-risk behaviours, like aggressive and distracted driving.
- Monthly themes focus on specific safety issues throughout the year. For example, September campaigns focus on intersections and vulnerable road users for the back-to-school period.
- Specialized education is provided on the use of new infrastructure, such as multi-use pathways and protected intersections.
Enforcement: Safety Initiatives
- The police send traffic enforcement to “high-risk” intersections, identified from data analysis and citizen complaints.
- The Ottawa Police launched the RIDE program to target impaired driving and to deploy distracted-driving patrols at key locations throughout the city.
What to Do if You’re in an Accident
- Move to safety: Pull over and turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers.
- Call 911: Emergency responders will provide immediate treatment for injuries and the necessary documentation.
- Seek medical attention: Some injuries, including concussions or spinal issues, don’t show symptoms immediately, so it’s always important to seek help even if you feel fine.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the intersection, vehicles involved, visible damage, traffic signs, lighting, and weather conditions.
- Exchange contact and insurance details with the other parties: Get contact information for any witnesses, if possible.
- Speak with Bergeron Clifford: Our experienced injury lawyers prepare every case for trial and understand the complex factors that can affect collisions at Ottawa’s most dangerous intersections.
Drive Defensively, Live Safely
Knowing which intersections in Ottawa pose the highest risk empowers you to make safer choices. Hunt Club Road, Riverside Drive, and other high-collision intersections highlight the need for vigilance, no matter how routine your commute may seem. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact Bergeron Clifford. Our trial-ready team supports injury victims across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. Let us help you focus on healing while we focus on your case.
