The BC Community Road Safety Toolkit
Author(s): Dilgir, Lovegrove, Anderson, Amit, Watson, Lovegrove, Anderson, Amit, Watson
Slidedeck Presentation Only (no paper submitted):
Abstract:
British Columbia updated its Road Safety Strategy in January 2016, with a vision of moving towards zero fatalities. The Safe Roads and Communities Working Committee (SRACWC) has a mandate of developing knowledge and tools to improve the infrastructure and within communities throughout the Province.
In 2015, a survey was conducted of all BC Communities. 81 municipalities responded and identified the top safety issues in their communities, and factors that were preventing them from making the progress they wanted to. One of the key factors was the lack of road safety knowledge and expertise. To help fill the knowledge gap for BC communities, the SRACWC undertook a project to develop a toolkit with guidance to address the top safety issues. A modular approach was taken so that each one could focus on one theme, and that modules could be added to the series in the future. The objective of the Toolkit is to provide clear and evidence-based guidance to improve road safety management. The primary target group is municipalities throughout BC. However, all the concepts can be applied by other jurisdictions as well as organizations who partner with communities in improving road safety through improved infrastructure and management (e.g. First Nation communities, public health officials, road designers, police). A literature search was conducted and discussions were held with the SRACWC and RoadSafetyBC staff. As a result, a list of measures was developed. Members of the SRACWC participated in the development of the guidance, based on their expertise. Each module of the Toolkit went through several iterations and quality peer reviews, all on a volunteer basis. The deliverables were divided into 3 modules:
* Module 1: Protecting People who Walk and Cycle
* Module 2: Safer Intersections
* Module 3: Supporting Policies and Tools
The contents of the Toolkit draw from best practices in other jurisdictions. Modules 1 and 2 describe and illustrate the concepts and provide basic application guidance, documented safety benefits, some implementation advice, and links to more detailed information. Some of the countermeasures include Advance Stop Lines, Protected Intersections, Leading Pedestrian Intervals and Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons. Module 3 includes overarching tools such as the development of road safety plans, road safety management, the safe systems approach and tools such as road safety audits, so that novice users would have the basic context.
Module 1 is complete and available at RoadSafetyBC's website. The plans are to provide subsequent modules on the website, to inform all municipalities about their availability, and to possibly update them in the future as new knowledge emerges. '