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Think and Drive
In August 2007, Safe Communities Welland met with the Regional Niagara Road Safety Committee (RNRSC), as they were preparing to launch their Think and Drive Campaign throughout Niagara.
With a primary goal to identify, support, and promote existing injury prevention initiatives in our community, in partnership with members and community resources, a partnership with the RNRSC was a natural fit.
Photo: Linda Beyer (RNRSC), Darcy Anger (Welland Hydro) and Bill Auchterlonie (SCW) prepare Think and Drive inserts for Welland Hydro bills.
Following is some information about the committee, why it was struck and links to appropriate websites.
Background:
The Regional Niagara Road Safety Committee (RNRSC) was formed as a result of a 2003 Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) community symposium held to address community concern over the dramatic increase in the number of serious and fatal motor vehicle collisions (MVC) occurring on Niagara roadways. This integrated road safety committee consists of representatives from the CAA Niagara (CAA), Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), Niagara Region Public Health Department (NRPHD), and Niagara Region Public Works Department (NRPWD). Together they have developed and continue to implement a strategic plan to reduce fatal and serious injury motor vehicle collisions in Niagara by 10% over a 5-year period (2004-2008), using a comprehensive injury prevention approach to road safety that includes education, enforcement, engineering and advocacy. The plan goals are:
- To decrease by 10% the number of serious motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) where factors relating to vehicles are a primary consideration.
- To decrease by 10% the number of serious MVCs where factors relating to driver actions are a primary consideration.
- To decrease by 10% the number of serious MVCs where factors relating to the driving environment are a primary consideration.
- An enhanced ability to effectively share road safety related information among the RNRSC partner agencies and the community.
Niagara region has a higher number of fatal and serious injury MVCs per capita as compared to other regions within Ontario. Analysis of MVC data collected by the NRPS from 1999 to 2003 indicates that speed, impairment, and driver error are the most common causes / contributing factors involved in serious and fatal MVCs. Most of these collisions (58%) occur on rural roadways and 75% involve male drivers.
The Ministry of Transportation reports that over 85% of all MVCs involve driver error. The RNRSC began implementing the Think and Drive road safety campaign across the Niagara region to address driver actions as one part of the overall strategic plan.
Short-term of Think and Drive are:
- To increase awareness among Niagara drivers and road users about the Niagara crash problem.
- To increase knowledge among Niagara drivers and road users about road safety skills applicable to the Niagara crash problem.
- To change driver attitudes such that drivers take personal responsibility for road safety.
- To change driver behaviours in order to decrease motor vehicle collisions.
For more information, please visit:
The Documents section of this website to read more about Think and Drive:
