City official advocates for amending Ottawa's most hazardous traffic crossroads

A Call for Change at Ottawa's Most Dangerous Intersection

Councilor Riley Brockington of Ottawa's River Ward is pushing for immediate safety improvements at the city's deadliest intersection, the Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive crossroads.

According to the annual traffic collision report for 2024, a staggering 19,000 accidents occurred citywide, and a large portion, 96 to be exact, happened at the Hunt Club-Riverside intersection. This intersection, unfortunately, has held the top spot as the city's most accident-prone for years.

"We've got to shake things up," said Brockington. "Year after year, this intersection ranks as the most dangerous. Enough is enough. We need to figure out what changes we can make to make it safer for everyone."

Brockington was unsurprised to learn about the intersection's dubious claim to fame, given its reputation as a repeat offender. His recent inquiries to city officials were a direct response to this persistent issue.

The primary cause of collisions at this intersection appears to be drivers turning from Riverside Drive onto the Hunt Club bridge. According to Brockington, motorists are often so distracted by checking for approaching traffic on their left that they end up hitting the car in front of them.

"These collisions are typically minor with little to no injuries," said Brockington. "But it's not about the severity; it's about the design of the intersection."

Interestingly, while the Hunt Club-Riverside intersection led the city in the total number of accidents and injuries, the rate of injuries per accident was moderately lower than several other intersections, such as Merivale Road at Hunt Club (18.87%) and Hazeldean Road at Terry Fox Drive in Kanata (15.71%).

Brian Erwin, Eastern Ontario director of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, shares Brockington's concerns. Erwin, who drives through the intersection daily, attributes the high frequency of accidents to aggressive driving and drivers attempting to beat the traffic light. Additionally, the intersection's slightly skewed design, which enables higher-speed merging, can impact visibility.

To combat this persistent issue, Brockington suggests simple solutions such as adding warning signs or flashing yellow lights. However, according to Yasser Hassan, chair of Carleton University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, there are more comprehensive methods available to reduce the risk of collisions.

Hassan believes that the current design of the intersection may encourage erratic driving due to the ease of making right turns compared to left turns. He suggests modifying the intersection's island design to encourage safer turning maneuvers without risky moves and ensure complete frontal visibility.

In addition to these suggestions, other potential solutions include:

-Separate dedicated turning lanes with physical dividers-Install advanced stop lines or bayonet-style turn lanes-Add left-turn arrows with protected phasing-Optimize signal timing to reduce congestion-Widen lanes between River Road and Hunt Club Road-Implement north-south capacity enhancements-Install sensors or cameras to monitor near-misses and adjust signal patterns-Add reflective signage and road markings for improved nighttime visibility

Brockington's ultimate goal is to address the design flaw causing motorists turning from Riverside onto Hunt Club to collide with vehicles ahead. By implementing a combination of these proposed modifications, Ottawa could make the Hunt Club-Riverside intersection safer for all road users.

References:[1] Stephens, B. (2025, February 1). Intersection Design Flaw Causing Accidents: City Councillor. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved January 31, 2026, from https://ottawacitizen.com/news/city/intersection-design-flaw-causing-accidents-city-councillor[2] Riverside Drive Corridor Study. (2024). City of Ottawa. Retrieved January 31, 2026, from https://ottawa.ca/en/reports-and-studies/riverside-drive-corridor-study[3] Airport Parkway Widening Project. (n.d.). City of Ottawa. Retrieved January 31, 2026, from https://ottawa.ca/en/planning/airport-parkway-widening-project

Councilor Riley Brockington of Ottawa's River Ward is advocating for urgent safety improvements at the city's most accident-prone intersection, Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive crossroads, which recorded 96 accidents in 2024.
Brockington proposes simple solutions like adding warning signs or flashing yellow lights, but Yasser Hassan, chair of Carleton University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, suggests more comprehensive methods such as modifying the intersection's island design for safer turning maneuvers.
Brian Erwin, Eastern Ontario director of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, echoes Brockington's concerns about the high frequency of accidents at the intersection, attributing them to aggressive driving, traffic violation, and the intersection's design.
In contrast to its high total accident count, the rate of injuries per accident at the Hunt Club-Riverside intersection was moderately lower than several other Ottawa intersections.
Brockington's primary objective is to resolve the design flaw causing motorists turning from Riverside onto Hunt Club to collide with vehicles ahead.
Other potential solutions include separate dedicated turning lanes, advanced stop lines, protected left-turn arrows, optimized signal timing, widening lanes, north-south capacity enhancements, traffic monitoring systems, reflective signage, and nighttime visibility improvements.
By implementing a combination of these proposed modifications, Ottawa could make the Hunt Club-Riverside intersection safer for all road users, potentially reducing general news stories about fatalities, car-accidents, and incidents of crime-and-justice.