Surrey Safe Mobility – Vision Zero Plan: Theory to Practice
Author(s): Boan
Slidedeck Presentation Only (no paper submitted):
Abstract:
Surrey is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. Rapid urban growth coupled with increases in vulnerable road users have contributed to road safety and mobility challenges. ICBC's 2010-1015 data highlights concerning trends with total collisions per 100,000 population rising 13% and severe collisions increasing by 17% in Surrey. The Provincial Health Officer's Annual Report 'Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Reducing the Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes on Health and Wellbeing in BC' shows Surrey has the highest number of traffic fatalities in Metro Vancouver (BC Trauma Data 2006-2015).
Both broad public consultation and the Surrey RCMP's 2017 public survey results have revealed that Road Safety and Mobility is a major concern and a high priority for action. The objective is the implementation of Vision Zero as the City's new road safety approach and a focus shift to reduction in collisions resulting in death and serious injuries, particularly amongst the most vulnerable road users which are over represented in Surrey injury and casualty data.
1. Locations of Harm - A Focus on Intersections: Data analysis using GIS hotspots indicates approximately 80% of collisions occur at intersections and have a higher chance of injury occurring.
2. Victims of Harm - A Focus on Vulnerable Road Users: 57% of fatalities in Surrey involve pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists.
3. Perpetrators of Harm - A Focus on Driver Behaviour including Impaired, Distracted and Speeding Drivers: In the Lower Mainland, impaired driving is responsible for 17% of fatal collisions, and distracted driving 27%. The plan adopts a holistic approach to road safety utilising a multi-pronged, evidence-based approach, structured around the following guiding principles:
* Applying a 'Safer Systems Approach';
* Data-driven and evidence-based focus;
* Leadership, collaboration and advocacy;
* Continuous improvement and innovation;
* Involving and mobilizing the community; and
* Relevant and responsive to change.
Incorporating the Five Es: Engineering; Enforcement; Education; Engagement; and Evaluation, it aims to deliver a comprehensive system designed to anticipate and accommodate human error, and reduce the risk of death and serious injury to road users. Activities include safety audits; engineering improvements at priority locations; use of volunteers and partner agencies to deliver education & awareness; coordinated enforcement efforts at targeted locations and during times of highest likelihood of harm based on analytics.
A highlight of the plan incorporates a strong partnership with Surrey RCMP to deliver an innovative initiative called DDACTS (Data-Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety) which integrates location-based crime and traffic crash data to deploy law enforcement and other resources reducing the incidence of traffic crashes and criminal incidents. Additionally, the 5 Es will be activated in a wrap-around manner in order to maximize impact. Evaluation of similar initiatives show significant and sustained reductions in serious injury and fatalities amongst all road users. Initiatives have a performance measurement framework and initial results will be presented at March conference. Results will inform future strategy and resource allocation.