Vision Zero in Canada 9 th International Conference on Urban Traffic Safety August 2017
Parachute National charity focused on preventable injuries Vision: An injury-free Canada with Canadians living long lives to the fullest Knowledge mobilization Program development Partner networks Policy change 2
Parachute Priorities Road Safety Concussions Senior Falls Road Safety Adopted Vision Zero as an evidence-based framework 3
Vision Zero No one should be killed or seriously injured within the road transport system. 4
Vision Zero An Overview No loss of life is acceptable Traffic fatalities and serious injuries are preventable We all make mistakes We are physically vulnerable when involved in motor vehicle collisions Eliminating fatalities and serious injuries is a shared responsibility between road users and those who design and maintain our roadways 5
Vision Zero An Overview As a result of Vision Zero, Sweden has one of the world s lowest traffic-related fatality rates: 50% in the past 5 years 1970-58 2012-1 6
Vision Zero An Overview Approach - shared responsibilities among all road users and those involved in the road framework, including politicians, planners, police, community organizations, vehicle manufacturing companies, companies and organizations that purchase transport services 7
Vision Zero An Overview Main areas of focus: Environment Introducing safer car design Improving road infrastructure for everyone Enforcement Reducing impaired driving Implementing safer speed limits Increasing the use of seatbelts 8
Vision Zero An Overview Key Activities Advocacy for policy change Enhanced regulation Road infrastructure changes Providing information about dangers of risk factors 9
Vision Zero Creating Buy In Understand Vision Zero is a long term goal. Decision-makers need to take a lead, make clear commitments/set goals and targets as well as allocated resources. Multiple agency participation. 10
Vision Zero Creating Buy In Political Economists Traditional thinking around economic cost benefit models and the utilitarian mindset says some have to pay a price for the mobility of many. 11
Vision Zero Creating Buy In Road Engineers It starts with them - understanding the responsibility of designing the system. Why should we put the whole responsibility on the individual road user? Build a more human-friendly system instead. We have the knowledge to do that. Why wait for the crashes if you can mitigate the conflicts right off the top? Gerry Shimko, Executive Director of Traffic Safety for City of Edmonton 12
Vision Zero Creating Buy In Safety Experts Have invested in the idea that safety work is about changing human behaviour. Vision Zero instead says that people make mistakes, they have a certain tolerance for external violence let s create a system for the humans instead of trying to adjust the humans to the system. 13
Vision Zero Creating Buy In Public Zero injuries is impossible but zero serious injuries and fatalities might be possible. How many of your friends and families are acceptable? If we can create a system where people are safe, why shouldn t we? 14
Vision Zero Success? Canadian jurisdictions have adopted the Vision Zero approach. Edmonton British Columbia Toronto Montreal Many more are introducing 15
Vision Zero Success? City of Edmonton In 2006, there were 8,246 people injured and killed on Edmonton streets. Response was to create the first municipal Office of Traffic Safety in N. America. 16
Vision Zero Success? City of Edmonton In 2015, City Council approved Edmonton s Road Safety Strategy 2016-2020, making Edmonton the first Canadian city to officially adopt Vision Zero. In spite of population growth, in 2015 there were 3,837 people injured or killed a decrease of 53.5%. 17
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Vision Zero Engagement Parachute launched the Vision Zero Network in Canada Responded to stakeholder needs and requests. Provides evidence-based resources and tools, connections to experts and others working across the country. Provides gathering opportunities for information exchange. 19
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Vision Zero Network Quick Wins Collaboration amongst road safety experts VZ Network Advisory leveraged as CARSP VZ experts Increased communication amongst those implementing Vision Zero to share experiences 200+ Network members registered since May 2017 One-stop shop for evidence-based resources 29