"SHARING THE ROAD" CONFERENCE 2007 Working together to reduce motor vehicle crashes in Northern BC SHARING THE ROAD CONFERENCE 2007

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1 "SHARING THE ROAD" CONFERENCE 2007 Working together to reduce motor vehicle crashes in Northern BC "it's it1 your hands' <c northern health In follow-up to 2005's CrossRoads Conference, we are pleased to invite you all to the Sharing the Road Conference, October 16 and 17 in Prince George. We'll have reports back on what's been done since October 2005, an updated CrossRoads Report, breakouts on topics of interest, and a whole lot more. SHARING THE ROAD CONFERENCE 2007 There is no cost for registration. We're inviting committed, passionate people who want to take positive action in their communities - people like you!- to join us in continuing our collaborative efforts across North Central BC to reduce motor vehicle injuries and fatalities. WORKING TO MRKE B DlfFERLNCE BC Forest Safety Council / 7 11;<~( 3 t, fl<'y,:,71>i? BRITISH Co~U!rvlsIn Ministry of Forests & Range Ministry of Transportation Coroner's Service Commercial Vehicle Safety Come, and learn about the latest technological developments like Electronic Stability Control, and how it can reduce injuries and fatalities due to rollovers by 40%! Come, and hear the results of the Wildlife Crash study initiated in 2005 and find out how we can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Come, and learn how to access and use local media (radio, newspaper) to promote your project. Come, and see what the RoadHealth Grant projects have accomplished. Come, and help us develop an action plan and set priorities for the next 2 years. Come, and look together at the future of our road systems in the north, in the context of economic development and increased industrial traffic. What's it all going to mean for your town? For your neighbourhood? For your safety on the road? Come, and be part of a one-of-a-kind event, where government, industry, First Nations and the public work together to resolve issues that affect every one of us!

2 The conference is open to community groups, interested individuals, local government leaders, regulatory bodies, First Nations, youth, commercial drivers, road user groups, clubs, advocacy groups, cyclists, runners, rv dealers, auto dealers, auto industry reps, business, industry, health care providers, emergency services personnel.... The entire Road User Community. Please or fax the attached registration form to Kathleen Meise, Sharing the Road Conference Registrations at (250) , or or call (in Prince George call ) and register by phone. THE ROAD USER "COMMUNITY" - Who is your neighbour? I have found that working with the RoadHealth Partners and thinking about Road safety and Crash prevention in public health terms has changed the way I think about driving and being on the road. Have you ever wondered how many vehicles are on our roads at any one time? Have you ever wondered what sort of people are in them and about whether these people are - healthy? When we get into a vehicle and begin a +I---* 7 --* journey we are in effect entering a community of road t T : users whose population varies with the time of day and, ",2 i', 2' * the season. Like any other community, it is made up of L?F,.&ir ' 3'! people of all ages who have a variety of reasons for -, 'i being there. For a significant number of people, it is also a workplace. Like any other community, there are responsibilities that go along with citizenship, and like any other community, there is a potential for bad or illegal behaviour by individuals to do serious damage. Unlike most communities, there is a constant requirement for citizens on the road to be alert. The cost of allowing one's alertness to be impaired by fatigue, or alcohol or other drugs, or even by diseases like diabetes or heart disease can be and all too often is, catastrophic. We know that communities where citizens share responsibility and actively participate in improving living conditions are "healthy communities". The importance of community values like tolerance, consideration, and respect for other people is multiplied when your community happens to be moving along narrow corridors at high speed and close quarters in thin metal capsules under the direction of individuals who vary greatly in their levels of skill and experience..

3 Instead of assuming the worst about our neighbours on the road when they do something that bothers us, it is in our own interest to cut them slack and recognize that they are parents and grandparents and young people and children with the same pressures, and failings '%;EL as the people we know in our own neighbourhoods' and families. It is also in our interest to do everything we can to make the community of people on the road as healthy and as alert as possible. Dr David Bowering, Chief Medical Officer, Northern Health 2007 ROADHEALTH GRANT PROJECTS This year's call for grant applications resulted in an increased number of proposals from community groups, which was great. However, many of the proposals didn't really fit the criteria of being a local "prevention" project. The approved projects range from continuation of projects begun last year to initiatives developed in order to take on new challenges that have arisen due to the increase in resource extraction activities near communities. Ride Safe Helmet Program & Booster Seat Education, Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association, Smithers The BVBIA strives to ensure that services are provided in a respectful and timely manner to people affected by brain injury; we work to facilitate public education in all aspects of brain injury with emphasis on strategies for prevention. Best Driver Program, College of New Caledonia, Vanderhoof To develop a course that would help persons with learning challenges such as literacy, comprehension, test anxiety and information retention, obtain a valid BC Drivers License. Bicycle and Road Safety Open House, Emergency Social Services, Hudson's Hope To hold an Open House which will focus on raising awareness among all age groups for vehicle and road safety, especially seatbelt use, drinking & driving and speeding. With our partners, we will promote ways to mitigate, eliminate or avoid these hazards. We will provide fun and informative activities and displays to support learning about bike and auto safety Road Safety Improvement Program, District of Stewart, Stewart Establish a stakeholder Road Committee for the improvement of Highway 37N and the Glacier Highway. Fort St James Extrication Society, Fort St. James Purchase and train in the use of lightweight extrication equipment that can be taken aboard a helicopter, thereby expediting responses. Training in helicopter operations is also a vital key. c/o ernail arcand@bcforestsafe.orq I Phone: (250)

4 Crash Reduction Task Force, ICBC, Prince George Raise awareness of the contributing factors to collision-related injuries drivers encounter throughout the Peace-Liard region. Remind drivers of reasons to Drive Like You Care Bicycle Safety Helmet Campaign, Northern Brain Injury Community, Prince George To increase knowledge of road safety rules for pedestrians and small wheel vehicles and to increase awareness of safety equipment for small wheel vehicles. Terrace Truck Wash, Northwest Loggers Association, Terrace Truckers use the truck wash to clean their equipment to help them spot defects. Adding power and lighting will increase the usage year-round making it easier and safer to inspect vehicles. North District Seat Belt Project, R.C.M.P, Terrace One of the main causes of death and serious injury in these collisions is the fact that the occupants are not wearing their seat belts. The rollover simulator meets the needs of the community by showing what happens to unrestrained occupants during a rollover situation. Caring Community Car Seat Program, Starting Smart Prenatal ProgramIStepping Stones Toddler Program, Hazelton To provide convertible car seats to families who would otherwise be unable to purchase due to lack of resources thereby decreasing the likely hood of death or serious injury to infants and toddlers. Wildlife Collision Prevention Program - Public Awareness Campaign, British Columbia Conservation Foundation, Prince George To develop and implement strategies to reduce the number of wildlife vehicle collisions in northern British Columbia. A public awareness campaign is a consistent and important component of this strategy Strategies to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions in northern BC: Phase 2, University of Northern BC, Prince George Utilizing data from ICBC, WARS and Ministry of Transport to determine where collisions are happening so it can be integrated into our mitigation planning process. Assessing sites for determining the most relevant form of countermeasure implementation.

5 "Sharing the Road" Working together to reduce motor vehicle crashes in Northern BC "it's in your hands" CONFERENCE REGISTRATION $6 northern health Last Name: First Name: Mailing Address: City: Province & Postal Code: WORKING TO PRKC R DIfFERLNCE Su f Gt W medlrm QsndsJmwkim.. MwrtieC Pafm drl Canada I Phone: ( ) Fax: ( ) Organization: BC Forest Safety Council I I Til/, 5 < ~<'[,l,ibi? BRITISH COLUMBIA Ministry of Forests & Range Ministry of Transportation Coroner's Service Commercial Vehicle Safety c/o arcand@bcforestsafe.org I Phone: (250)

6 V RoadHealthO "SHARING THE ROAD" CONFERENCE 2007 Working together to reduce motor vehicle crashes in Northern BC "it's in your hands" 3?c 1 DRAFT - CONFERENCE OUTLINE OCTOBER 16 & 17,2007 Location: Civic Centre, Prince George Theme: "Sharing the Roadm- addressing interface issues between all road users DAY ONE: Opening and Introductions Conference Co-facilitators - MaryAnne ArcandRalph Cervi Opening Remarks - Dr Bowering Celebrity Guest Speaker - tba - - WORKING TO HOKE FI DIffLRFNCE Updates since 2005 conference: stats, projects and changes Community of Road Users - snapshots Updated CrossRoads Report BC Forest Safety Council 1:7/~,q;: ;.7 *,c:, <',/,:<7b:t. Ministry of Forests & Range Ministry of Transportation Coroner's Service Commercial Vehicle Safety Sharing the Road Panel: a variety of perspectives - Trucker - School bus driver - ER doctor - Cyclist - School crossing guard - Flag person - RV driver - First Nations - Mom who drives kids to school, etc - Motorbiker - Youth/New Driver - Courier c/o arcand@bcforestsafe.org I Phone: (250)

7 Afternoon: Breakouts* Advertising & the Media Vehicles & Technology Resource Road Driving Driver Training Wildlife Collisions Driver Health Booze, Belts and Speed * the purpose of the breakouts is a interactive discussion on the issue; each facilitator will particularly familiar with that topic. Culminating the discussion will be recommendations for action items by breakout participants. Actions need to be viable, "small steps", and specific. DAY TWO: Grant Recipients Showcase funded projects1 make presentations (10 mins each) - Ft St James College of New Caledonia- driver curriculum development - Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association - booster seats - Hazelton - baby restraint seats - PG Brain Injury Association - Hudson Hope Bicycle Rodeo - Northern Brain Injury Community - Bicycle Helmet campaign - BC Forest Safety Council - multi-industry road use - RCMP Rollover Simulator - Stewart Road Safety Committee - Wildlife Crash Research - Crash Reduction Task Force Look into the future: What's all this economic expansion going to mean? - community associations, mayorslcouncilors, elected officials - industry officials - communities along resource roads - government representatives Afternoon: From the breakouts - recommendations/action items Closing - let's get to work!