Zero expectations drive efforts to drastically reduce traffic-related deaths in Canada
This page was last reviewed on November 30, 2016
World road safety leaders come together for first Canadian Vision Zero Summit
TORONTO- Transport-related incidents remain one of the leading causes of injury and death in Canada. Parachute, a national injury prevention charity, wants to reduce these incidents to zero by adopting strategies first introduced in Sweden as Vision Zero.
Canada’s Vision Zero Summit, powered by Parachute, brings together an outstanding line up of road safety leaders and reserarchers to discuss how we can help drastically lower the number of deaths and injuries on our roads. Vision Zero is a multi-national traffic safety initiative, which was founded in Sweden in the late 1990s. It is based on the philosophy that no one should be killed or seriously injured within the road transport system. The Summit will examine the implementation of Vision Zero in Canada, drawing on international examples of Vision Zero and the application to Canada.
Quick Facts:
- Transport incidents, which include pedestrian, cycling and motor vehicle collisions, account for more than 2,600 deaths and over 28,000 hospitalizations across Canada each year. [1]
- Vision Zero has been adopted and implemented globally, including in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States (Chicago, San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, San Mateo, Portland, Seattle, San Jose, Santa Barbara, San Diego), and Canada (Edmonton, Vancouver).
- Sweden has one of the world’s lowest traffic-related fatality rates (Vision Zero was founded in Sweden and it was the first country to implement Vision Zero in the 1990s’).
- The Government of Canada has released a road safety strategy, which embraces Vision Zero.
Additional Resources:
- Parachute Vision Zero
- The full report on The Cost of Injury in Canada
- The Vision Zero approach in Sweden
- City of Edmonton: Zeros in on Traffic Safety
Expert Quotes:
“Motor vehicle collisions are taking a significant toll on Canadian families. While we have seen some improvements in rates over the last several years, we now need to push for zero fatalities on our roads. That’s why Parachute is proud to host our first Vision Zero Canada Summit. We are thrilled to bring international expertise together to discuss how we can prevent injuries and save lives.”
Pamela Fuselli, Interim CEO, Parachute
“Road safety is of paramount importance in the City of Toronto. This past summer, City council just approved Toronto’s first-ever, comprehensive Road Safety Plan, and a key part of the plan involves drawing on best practices from other jurisdictions and exchanging information with our transportation and road safety partners across Canada and around the world.”
Councillor Jaye Robinson, Ward 25 Don Valley West, Chair of Public Works & Infrastructure Committee, City of Toronto
“In 2013, Canadian insurance companies paid out over $15 billion in auto insurance claims, but the costs associated with the loss of life and severe injury individuals and their families endure as a result of auto collisions, bicycling and pedestrian incidents, can never be tabulated,” says John Bordignon, Media Relations, State Farm Canada. “Vision Zero has proven effective in jurisdictins all over the world at promoting safety, reducing fatalities and improving traffic management .We are supportive of initiatives that save lives, prevent injury and decrease property damage.”
John Bordignon, Media Relations, State Farm Canada
How can you help make Vision Zero a reality? Donate now to support Parachute’s efforts to impact road safety and stop preventable injuries and deaths.
Media contact:
Andrea Piunno, Parachute
647 776-5134, apiunno@parachutecanada.org
About Parachute:
Parachute is a national charity helping Canadians stop the clock on preventable injuries. The injury impact is staggering. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of children. The cost the Canadian economy $27B a year, and worst of all, one child dies every nine hours. Through education, knowledge and empowerment, Parachute is working to save lives and create an injury-free Canada. For information, visit us at parachutecanada.org, follow us on Twitter, or join us on Facebook.
About Vision Zero:
Vision Zero is a multi-national traffic safety initiative, which was founded in Sweden in the late 1990s. It is based on the philosophy that no one should be killed or seriously injured within the road transport system. Ultimately, the main goal of Vision Zero is to achieve zero fatalities or serious injuries on the road.
[1] (Source: The Cost of Injury in Canada)