This column is written as correspondence between Maddy the Motorist and Patty the Pedestrian
Dear Patty the Pedestrian,
Thank you for the link to Defensive Driving: Pedestrians on You Tube. I do recommend it for both drivers and pedestrians. It should reduce collisions and injuries.
Signed: Maddy the Motorist
Dear Maddy,
Thanks, Maddy.
Speaking of greater safety, I have just learned about Vision Zero. It originates in Sweden after a vehicle going at high speed is believed to have hydroplaned, then crashed into a nearby concrete lamp post. Five young people died.
Sweden’s Traffic Safety Director, Claes Tingvall asked what their highway department was going to do about it. They said they would replace the destroyed post with another concrete post. Tingvall thought that was unacceptable; people make mistakes, serious mistakes. He believed people’s mistakes need to be factored into how roadways are designed.
In 1997, Sweden’s parliament passed legislation to design and build better traffic environments, enforcement and vehicle design. It became known as Vision Zero. The long term goal is to achieve zero fatalities and fewer serious injuries. Sweden developed new standards, built and/or reconstructed roads, stepped up enforcement and required safer vehicles.
According to Smart City Sweden, roundabouts reduce mortality by 95 per cent, central lane barriers by about 80 per cent (like near 103 Mile) seatbelts by 60 per cent and anti-skid systems by 50 per cent in single and head-on collisions. For cyclists, they say helmets reduce fatal injuries by 65 per cent.
What is the result? So far it has halved fatalities in Sweden! That right, a 50 per cent reduction. (Source: smartcitysweden.com/best-practice/408/vision-zero-reducing-road-traffic-casualties-and-injuries)
B.C. suffered 315 traffic deaths in 2023.
Many other places have joined the Vision Zero movement including British Columbia. Funding has helped pay for traffic calming, safer school streets and pedestrian traffic signals. But local government and other organizations are expected to share the cost.
Check it out at visionzerobc.ca, Maddy.
Sincerely: Patty the Pedestrian
Bert Groenenberg is a pedestrian, cyclist and driver.
