Parachute Youth Road Safety Advocacy Toolkit 6: Final thoughts and acknowledgements

Through this toolkit you’ve learned what road safety is, what advocacy in this space entails and looks like, who makes the decisions, what you can advocate for, how to build an advocacy plan and how to get your message heard.

So, what now? It might be overwhelming to try to apply everything you’ve learned while reading this but all you have to do is start small. Pick the one thing that bothers you most about the roads in your community and take the first step, whether it’s researching possible solutions, filling in a problem tree,or just looking up your councillor’s name. 

And remember, you don’t need to have it all figured out. Your plan will take shape as you go.

One last reminder: advocacy is a continuous cycle, not a one-time event. Through your advocacy journey, you may experience rejection or pushback but sometimes you’ll get that yes, and it will be worth it. One yes can mean a safer crossing, a lower speed limit and a street where all road users are prioritized and safe. Keep following up, keep sharing what you’re doing and come back to this toolkit whenever you need it.

The next change is just waiting for someone to ask for it and you can be an influential changemaker in your local community by improving road safety for everyone. 

Acknowledgements

This toolkit was co-developed with the Canadian Youth Road Safety Council and Parachute’s Youth Road Safety Ambassadors and inspired by the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety and YOURS Advocacy and Campaigns Toolkit.

The Canadian Youth Road Safety Council is Parachute’s youth advisory committee of 10 youth aged 15 to 24 years old from across Canada. 

Parachute Youth Ambassadors are young leaders from across Canada who developed and led road safety initiatives, sponsored by Parachute, in their local communities. 

This toolkit was shaped by their insights, lived experience, and generosity with their time throughout its development. 

We thank both the council members and the ambassadors who participated in this project for their contributions.