A Vision for Road Safety
Waterloo is developing a Road Safety Action Plan that works towards ending traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Learn what Waterloo is doing to implement a vision zero philosophy and how you can help.
Spring update: In Wards 4, 5 and 6, we are reducing the speed limit on neighbourhood streets to 40 km/h and in school zones to 30 km/h. Learn more on our speed management project page.
On this page:
- About the Road Safety Action Plan
- What our Vision Zero philosophy means
- Watch our Vision Zero videos
- Things to do in your neighbourhood
- Transportation partners
About the Road Safety Action Plan
Waterloo is working to ensure our plans, data and partnerships improve road safety in one, easy-to-understand strategy. The strategy is based on vision zero philosophies, to build a safe and connected community, as our transportation needs grow with our city.
What our vision zero philosophy means
Vision zero is the belief that everyone has the right to move safely in their community. The philosophy works to end traffic related injuries and fatalities, while increasing the safety and mobility for all.
How vision zero applies to city roads
Vision zero takes an adaptive approach in road design in that:
- traffic deaths are preventable
- road design plans for human failure
- saving lives is not expensive
By designing with these concepts and bringing together a variety of decision makers when creating policy, we can ensure improvements in creating a safe roadway for all users.
How we are achieving road safety
Through our Transportation Master Plan, we have identified an immediate need to begin work on making roads safer in Waterloo. While there are many aspects to a vision zero philosophy, it will center around:
- Evaluation
- Engagement
- Education
- Engineering
- Enforcement
Evaluation
Annual data collection will be used to find high-risk traffic areas and support locations that require traffic control, traffic calming, pedestrian crossing and additional transportation solutions. Data collection will indicate long-term collision trend analysis of all modes of transportation to assist with future road planning.
Engagement
Public engagement helps our staff and council make policy decisions with our community’s input. Having a diverse and engaged community reflecting as many interested and affected parties as possible will help a achieve the goals of vision zero. This includes meeting regularly with our all our transportation partners.
Education
Having an informed public on area speed limits and reducing aggressive driving will create a safe experience for all road users. If an individual is aware of the rules of the road they are more likely to follow them. Working towards understanding road safety is a priority. The city is working with partners to inform the public on vision zero. Watch videos from the Vision Zero campaign below.
Engineering
Humans make errors and we can plan for that when building road systems. Installing raised intersection, reducing speed limits on residential streets and school zones, placing flexible signs (for speed reduction) and ensuring construction sites stay safe and accessible during constructions are some of the ways we can achieve vision zero.
Enforcement
Beyond parking, enforcement is done by Waterloo Region Police Services. We partner with our enforcement officers to provide education to our community. Vision zero begins with an informed community on how to safely use roadways.
Learn more about the Vision Zero philosophy in the Transportation Master Plan (PDF).
Watch our Vision Zero videos
We created an education campaign to help us reach our Vision Zero Strategy goal of zero serious injuries and deaths from traffic collisions in our community.
Preventing collisions is a community effort. Let's all do our part.
Watch these videos to learn about Vision Zero and be a safer driver.
Things to do in your neighbourhood
Improving Road Safety is a community effort. Safe roadways start at the planning level and end at the person using the route. Ensure you are following the rules of the road whether you are in a motor vehicle, on a bicycle or are a pedestrian. Avoid common high-risk actions that cause collisions on roads.
Promote road safety
Be an advocate for your community! Pick up a 'Slow Down Please" lawn sign to promote safe road behaviour.
Watch our cycling safety videos and our pedestrian crossing video. These videos help pedestrians, cyclists and drivers understand road safety. Be an example by following the rules.
Get involved at the grassroots level. Be active in your neighbourhood association, follow along with your Waterloo Advisory Committee on Active Transportation. These groups will meet with our transportation division as part of our Road Safety Action Plan.
Participate in our school celebrations and appreciations, they include:
- School Crossing Guard Appreciation during the first week of June
- Winter walk to school in February
- bike to school during bike month in June
Transportation partners
In order to create a road system that meets the needs of all the community, it is important to foster partnerships across the Region.
The city is proud to partner with a range of organizations and community groups to help build our road systems to be safe for pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and commuters to school. They are:
- Waterloo Advisory Committee on Active Transportation
- Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region
- Waterloo Regional Police Service
- Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
- University of Waterloo
- City of Kitchener
- CAA