By Jon Willing, December 4, 2019 The city’s latest road safety plan received the
transportation committee’s unanimous approval Wednesday, even after advocates
called on councillors to be more bold in trying to stop traffic deaths. The
plan’s goal is to reduce the average annual rate of fatal and major injury
collisions by 20 per cent. The last iteration of the road safety plan achieved a
reduction of 14 per cent between 2012 and 2017. In drafting the 20-per-cent
goal, city staff listened to feedback during public consultations and created
what they believe is an achievable target for 2020-2024. However, critics don’t
understand why the city didn’t make it a goal to have zero deaths, falling more
in line with a “vision zero” approach to road safety. Robb Barnes, executive
director of Ecology Ottawa, said the city should have car-free zones, reduce car
lanes on roads, impose bans on right turns on red lights and embrace a vision
zero philosophy.
“(The city’s plan) is a vision 20-per-cent reduction and that’s not far enough for us,” Barnes said.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/transportation-committee-backs-new-new-road-safety-plan-despite-calls-for-more-ambitious-goal