Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach: A Primer for Canada

Monday, March 27, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, March 27, 2023 – The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) has released Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach: A Primer for Canada in response to growing global attention on road safety and the adoption of the Safe System Approach and Vision Zero as frameworks for road safety programs. It is available free as a PDF on TAC’s website.

The Second Decade of Action for Road Safety was declared in 2020, aiming for a 50% reduction in international road deaths and injuries by 2030. The Canadian Road Safety Strategy 2025 also adopts the Safe System Approach, and many provinces, territories, and municipalities are pursuing similar agendas.

The Primer defines Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach, and explains the unified framework they provide for improving road safety. The Safe System Approach recognizes the fallibility and vulnerability of human beings, and it aims to both prevent crashes resulting from inevitable human errors, and to mitigate the consequences of crashes when they do occur. It requires the involvement of various stakeholders and encourages collaborative multi-sector partnerships to address broader ethical, social, economic, and environmental goals.

 

The Primer aims to promote greater understanding of these concepts and support the development, identification, and sharing of Canadian best practices. A free webinar recording presenting highlights of the Primer is available, providing testimonials, examples, discussions, and a snapshot of practices across Canada.

This primer was developed through the efforts of the following volunteers from the Vision Zero & Safe System Subcommittee of TAC’s Road Safety Committee:

  • Shabnem Afzal, City of Surrey, BC
  • Sulaf Alkarawi, Niagara Region, ON
  • Nancy Badeau, Ville de Montréal, QC
  • Raheem Dilgir, TranSafe Consulting Ltd.
  • Mavis Johnson, Traffic Injury Research Foundation
  • Justine MacLeod, New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Suzanne Woo

TAC is a national, not-for-profit technical association focusing on road and highway infrastructure and urban transportation. Its 500 corporate members—including all levels of Canadian governments, businesses, academic institutions, and others—come together to share ideas and information, build knowledge, and pool resources in addressing transportation issues and challenges. TAC’s online catalogue gives details on all the association’s publications.

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For more information, contact:

Erica Andersen
Director, Member Services and Communications
613-736-1350 x235  |  eandersen@tac-atc.ca

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