Safer Roads campaign highlights too many fatalities occur on rural roads

Safer Roads Ottawa’s new public awareness campaign addresses a key fact: Ottawa sees too many fatal collisions on its rural roadways. The campaign focuses the drivers’ attention on obeying speed limits and watching for potential hazards on rural roads – ranging from sudden curves to crossing wildlife.

From 2016 to 2020, 21 per cent of Ottawa’s fatal and major injury collisions have occurred in rural areas. At the same time, rural roadway collisions have contributed to one-third of Ottawa roadway fatalities.

While many drivers may perceive the busy urban and suburban roadways as posing greater safety risk, those open and clear rural roads present their own challenges and risks, such as: Curves and sudden turns Soft gravel shoulders along the roadway Hidden intersections Slower vehicles – such as farm equipment and tractors Wildlife – such as deer, moose and coyotes.

And what compounds these safety challenges, especially at night, are speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving and impairment from alcohol or drugs. Drivers must maintain the same attention to speed, control and alertness as driving on any urban roadway or highway.

The Safer Roads Ottawa awareness campaign will use social media and online advertising to raise awareness and educate residents on practising safe driving on rural roads.

The City is not only focusing on driver behaviour to promote greater rural road safety, but using engineering measures to enhance roadway geometry, signage and pavement markings. These safety measures include: Upgrading approximately 20 linear kilometres of gravel shoulders Enhanced delineation of horizontal curves – including reflective chevron signage to guide along a curve Enhanced signage and pavement markings at rural stop locations Modifications to rural skewed intersections to improve safety.

Ongoing enforcement will deter speeding and other risky driving behaviour on rural roads.

Coinciding with this campaign, Safer Roads Ottawa is also highlighting motorcycle safety this month. Other highlighted safety subjects over the rest of the year will include safety awareness for pedestrians, intersections, cycling, and impaired driving.

The Safer Roads Ottawa Program is a leading community partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health and the Public Works Department committed to preventing or eliminating road deaths and serious injuries for all people in the city of Ottawa, through culture change, community engagement, and development of a sustainable safe transportation environment.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.