Toronto rolls out Vision Zero Road Safety Plan for 2017

Toronto rolls out Vision Zero Road Safety Plan for 2017

The screams of police car and ambulance sirens pierce the air. A person lies motionless on the street. A shaken motorist sits slumped on a curb.

It’s a scene that played out all too often on Toronto streets in 2016. Last year, there were more than 77 fatalities on Toronto’s roads in, including 43 pedestrian deaths – up from 38 pedestrian fatalities in 2015.

The City of Toronto is taking action to make sure that this scene happens less in the future.

The City is introducing 45 new measures in 2017 as part of its Vision Zero Road Safety Plan targeted at eliminating fatalities and reducing serious injuries on our roads.

Among the initiatives that the City is introducing immediately:

• creation of Seniors Safety Zones at 12 high-priority locations, with increased pedestrian walk-times, enhanced signage and enhanced pavement markings

• implementation of red light cameras at 76 new locations

• new accessible pedestrian signals at 20 additional locations

• physical changes at 13 intersections

• a review of 14 high-risk collision locations to see what changes could be made

• expansion of the school Watch Your Speed Program at 20 additional locations

• speed reductions along 32 additional corridors

• expansion of the mobile Watch Your Speed Program – including 12 additional pole-mounted speed display units in the city’s central core, and

• implementation of increased pedestrian walk times at 50 additional signalized intersections.

The City has also created a website that provides information about the City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. It includes a mapping tool showing safety measures in place and future planned work as well as safety tips for all road users aimed at making our streets safer.  It is available at www.toronto.ca/VisionZeroTO
The City’s Road Safety Plan, approved by Toronto City Council in 2016, contains a series of measures and strategies aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on Toronto streets as well as improving safety for all road users.

It’s a start.

But everyone has a part to play. All road users need to do their part in putting safety first. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists all need to focus on what they are doing when traveling to help us reach our goal of safe streets in Toronto.

(PRESS RELEASE)