Parachute, Canada’s national charity dedicated to injury prevention, with support from Desjardins, publishes a paper to provide resources for communities wanting to improve road safety.

February 26, 2020 (Toronto, Ontario) – A 29-per-cent decrease in cyclist injuries. A 17-per-cent reduction in all serious injuries on the roads. This is what has happened so far in Edmonton, AB, Canada’s first city to embrace a Vision Zero road safety approach, and what’s possible for other communities across the country, says a paper that will help communities across the country adopt a successful road safety plan. Making a Vision Zero Commitment in Canadareviews road safety frameworks in Canada, the evolution of Vision Zero internationally and provides resources for practical implementation of Vision Zero in Canada.

“By using an injury-prevention approach based in public health theory, the paper provides information not only on Vision-Zero-specific implementation but also addresses important contextual factors that impact these efforts, such as community readiness,” says Pamela Fuselli, President and CEO of Parachute.

The paper includes two tools, “Indicators of a Vision Zero Community” and the three-part guide to “Becoming a Vision Zero Community”. It was created specifically for those who would lead such road safety planning in government – both politicians and staff – and their partners in areas such as law enforcement and public health.

“As a leading insurer, Desjardins is committed to keeping our members and clients safe,” says Alain Hade, Vice President of Marketing for Desjardins Insurance. “It’s why we’re proud to support Parachute and this paper, so that communities can work towards implementing Vision Zero and reduce injuries and fatalities.”

Vision Zero, a road safety framework first adopted in the 1990s in Sweden,is a multi-national traffic safety initiative that is reinventing traditional approaches to traffic safety, based on the philosophy that no one should be killed or seriously injured while using the transportation system. Vision Zero is built on the belief that “accidents” on our roads are not accidents at all; they are predictable and preventable. 

Vision Zero is based on the following fundamental concepts and beliefs:

  • No loss of life is acceptable
  • Traffic fatalities and serious injuries are preventable
  • As humans, we make mistakes and those mistakes must be planned for and anticipated so as not to result in serious injury or death
  • We are physically vulnerable when involved in motor vehicle collisions

In a Vision Zero community, eliminating fatalities and serious injuries is a shared responsibility between all road users and those who design and maintain our roadways. This, in essence, means safe drivers, safe vehicles, safe roads and the right speed for each type of road.

A companion publication to this paper, Vision Zero Canadian Landscape 2.0: Successes and Opportunities [opens PDF], reports in detail on plans, interventions and results of Vision Zero commitments in 15 Canadian jurisdictions of varying sizes, from the City of St. Albert, AB to the province of British Columbia. 

About Parachute
Parachute is Canada’s national charity dedicated to reducing the devastating impact of preventable injuries. Injury is the No. 1 killer of Canadians aged 1 to 34, where on average one child dies every day due to injury. Through education and advocacy, Parachute is working to save lives and create a Canada free of serious injuries. For more information, visit us at parachute.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Desjardins Group 
Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the fifth largest in the world, with assets of $313.0 billion. It has been rated one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the World’s Strongest Banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.

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Media Contact:

Kelley Teahen
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Parachute
media@parachute.ca
647-776-5128

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