Senior Safety Zones in Toronto: A Case Study
Author(s): Dilgir, Koo, Abdulkarim
Slidedeck Presentation:
Abstract:
Context:
Older adults are one of the groups of vulnerable road users emphasized in Toronto's Vision Zero Road
Safety Plan (VZRSP). One of the key initiatives in the plan for addressing safety for seniors is the Senior
Safety Zones program. This program involves the designation of areas around seniors' residences and
senior KSI (killed and serious injury) collision hotspots as Senior Safety Zones. These zones enable the
implementation of new safety enhancements including Senior Safety Zone traffic signs, zebra crosswalks
at intersections and longer pedestrian walk times at traffic signals. To date, the City has implemented
65 Senior Safety Zones in total across the City.
Objectives:
To help the City identify additional context specific safety improvements that addresses the needs of the
local community and its senior road users for each Senior Safety Zone, the City piloted a new process
which involves conducting detailed road safety engineering analysis in parallel with public consultation
and engagement with the local community. The objectives were to identify opportunities for safer mobility of seniors in the vicinity of residences, as well as for other vulnerable road users throughout 4 zones in various parts of the city.
Target Group:
The program is directed to benefit seniors in 4 zones of the city, as well as other vulnerable road users, in an attempt to eliminate incidents resulting in road users being killed or seriously injured (KSI).
Activity(ies):
The review consisted of a detailed analysis of the infrastructure, operations and information arising out of consultations with senior residents themselves. More specifically, this included an analysis of 5 years of collisions, including focus reviews of injury and vulnerable road user collisions, KSI and senior involvement. The review also included the geometry, human factors, traffic, pedestrian volumes, speeds, desire lines and crossing opportunities. The information was collected both on site and using other methods adapted to the circumstances imposed by the pandemic. As a result of the engineering analysis and engagement reviews, a list of safety issues was generated and countermeasures (state-of-good-repair, short term and long term) were identified to address each. The countermeasures include physical changes, new facilities that support the City’s leading-edge programs (such as accessibility measures, leading pedestrian intervals and protected-only turning phases), and recommendations for additional policy changes to further the City’s Vision Zero objective.
Deliverables:
The deliverables included a comprehensive report for each zone, containing a list and analysis of countermeasures for the City to review and consider implementing.