Parachute Vision Zero: Our Road Safety Approach and The Canadian Landscape
Author(s): Smith, Fuselli
Slidedeck Presentation:
Abstract:
Context:
While there is generally understanding of the Vision Zero concept, we recognize a number of gaps between understanding the concept and adopting Vision Zero in real world practice. Furthermore, we noted a lack of reporting on the overall “Canadian Landscape of Vision Zero”; in other words, a piece that outlines all cities, regions and provinces/territories that have adopted Vision Zero or are considering adopting Vision Zero, as well as an exploration of implementation experiences in Canada.
In Canada, Vision Zero road safety initiatives are emerging from coast to coast. This is a turning point for road safety in Canada, and Parachute has responded to stakeholder needs and created Parachute Vision Zero, a network which consists of over 300 professional stakeholders interested in and/or involved with the road safety space. Members of the network have communicated that they require a better understanding of how to approach Vision Zero in practice. The Canadian Landscape will help educate stakeholders and seek to fill this knowledge gap.
Objectives:
Rationale: Parachute seeks to facilitate a comparison of the features of Vision Zero programs and the diversity of implementation experiences, rather than a strict comparison of counts and rates. This focus is responsive to feedback from our Parachute Vision Zero network stakeholders who had requested a better understanding of how to approach Vision Zero, and the facilitators and barriers to embracing a systems approach to road safety. There is value in understanding the methods, successes and challenges faced by other jurisdictions in developing one’s own Vision Zero road safety plan.
Objectives:
• Provide a synthesis of the current status of all jurisdictions that are in the process of contemplating, adopting or implementing Vision Zero in Canada.
• Present key features of Vision Zero plans using a consistent framework of the 5 E’s of traffic safety and additional focuses where warranted.
• Illuminate the successes and challenges faced by jurisdictions at different stages of Vision Zero contemplation, adoption and implementation.
• Provide relevant insights from those who have implemented Vision Zero to increase understanding of the Vision Zero adoption/implementation process in practice.
Outputs:
• The comprehensive paper helps road safety professionals, public health personnel, engineers/planners, law enforcement, and government officials in jurisdictions considering Vision Zero to move from contemplation to adoption and implementation by providing an outline of real-world experiences from stakeholders that have already implemented Vision Zero in a variety of contexts.
• The Vision Zero map associated with the Canadian Landscape provides a concise, visual synthesis of all locations across Canada with a Vision Zero plan, providing their adoption date and access to their road safety plan.
Target Group:
Road safety professionals, planners, engineers, public health personnel, law enforcement, injury prevention professionals and/or political/government officials looking to make a change to road safety in their jurisdiction.
Activity(ies):
The Canadian Landscape helps educate stakeholders on Vision Zero and inspire policy change towards safer roads, by providing an introduction to the history and concepts of Vision Zero and the Safe Systems Approach, and describing jurisdictions in Canada that are contemplating or have implemented Vision Zero. The paper is supplemented by interviews with road safety stakeholders responsible for advancing Vision Zero initiatives, as well as a Vision Zero map which provides dates of implementation for all Vision Zero jurisdictions in Canada and their road safety plan.
To develop the Canadian Landscape, Parachute looked at the literature/grey literature on Vision Zero and the Safe Systems Approach in general as well as Vision Zero information specific to Canadian cities, regions and provinces/territories. We conducted interviews with 18jurisdictions that have implemented the Vision Zero approach in their area. To deliver the Canadian Landscape to our target audience, we will leverage our position as a leading voice on Vision Zero in Canada. Parachute has built relationships with road safety professionals from across Canada, leading Parachute’s Vision Zero network which convenes over 300 stakeholders and allows us to provide national thought leadership through the synthesis of evidence and jurisdictional experiences. The Canadian Landscape will be disseminated directly to the entire network, shared across our website and media channels, as well as shared at national and international road safety conferences and events.
Deliverables:
i. What outputs came from this work?
• Key informant interviews that provide readers with information on the implementation experiences of Canadian jurisdictions that have implemented Vision Zero.
• A scan of literature/grey literature that exists on Vision Zero in Canada.
• A Vision Zero map showing all jurisdictions in Canada that have adopted Vision Zero, including the adoption date and their Vision Zero plan.
• A summary of Vision Zero in Canada, including where it has been implemented, where it is being considered, and the stage each Canadian jurisdiction is at and what it took them to get there.
ii. How will this information be applied?
As leaders of the Parachute Vision Zero network, many professionals seek our resources to inform their work. Jurisdictions can apply the learnings from the Canadian Landscape in their own Vision Zero work to inform their Vision Zero planning process. The information provided helps close the gap between understanding Vision Zero as a concept and understanding how to implement Vision Zero.
iii. What lessons were learned?
Many factors influence the success of a Vision Zero plan and road safety changes in Canada, and there may be challenges encountered along the way. Factors such as collaboration, engagement and commitment, political and public acceptance, funding, data collection, among others, can affect Vision Zero implementation. The Canadian Landscape will make professionals aware of these challenges and demonstrate how other jurisdictions have dealt with them.