Region plans more road safety measures
Steps intended to address some of the most common types of collisions
WATERLOO REGION — New measures to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists at the top collision spots in Waterloo Region will be introduced starting this spring.
No right-turn-on-red restrictions and cycling warning signs will be tested by the region, and more phased left-turn signals will be added at select intersections with the aim of reducing crashes between motorists and people walking or biking at hot spots for cycling, pedestrian and vehicular crashes.
“They’re the most likely to benefit from safety improvements,” Bob Henderson, the region’s manager of transportation engineering, told a regional council committee meeting on Tuesday.
The measures are intended to address some of the most common types of collisions on regional roads, including motorists turning left and right and striking pedestrians, and cyclists in crosswalks at signalized intersections.
Motorists turning right at a signal accounted for 19 per cent of all pedestrian collisions between 2014 and 2018, and 25 per cent of cyclist collisions. Left-turning motorists accounted for 38 per cent of pedestrian collisions at signalized intersections and eight per cent of cycling collisions.
A pilot study will put no right-turn-on-red restrictions at three top intersections for pedestrian and cyclist collisions: University Avenue at Albert Street in Waterloo, and Hespeler Road at both Munch Avenue and Bishop Street in Cambridge.
“Catching drivers offguard is a common issue,” Henderson said. Hespeler and Munch/ Isherwood Avenue was the No. 1 intersection for cyclist collisions in 2018. Cyclists on the sidewalk pick up speed going downhill there and are moving faster than a motorist might expect. Coun. Sandy Shantz questioned whether the region should be telling drivers to be on alert or for cyclists to be doing what’s required.
“I think we really have to get the rules straight for everyone,” she said, adding that there should also be an expectation people follow the rules. “In a way, we’re putting the blame on someone who is actually following the rules.”
Thomas Schmidt, the region’s transportation commissioner, said it would be great if everyone followed the rules, but the reality is these crashes happen and the region needs to find a way to prevent them.
“We’re trying to solve the problem of the collisions rather than trying to point blame,” Schmidt said.
He pointed to the larger issue of drivers who roll through a red light when turning right, rather than stopping and only proceeding when the way is clear. Most red-light charges are from not stopping to turn right. “That is a common problem at all intersections and can result in collisions,” Schmidt said.
Cycling warning signs, which tell cyclists to be on alert for turning motorists, will be added to all 10 of the latest top cycling collision locations. Since those first started to be posted, there have been many locations without a collision involving a cyclist in the crosswalk.
The region also plans more fully-protected left-turn phasing at signalized intersections, which dramatically reduces all forms of collisions, including motorists striking other motorists.
That type of left-turn signal starts green and then turns red, granting the right-of-way for a limited time only.
The region plans to prohibit right turns from northbound King Street onto Victoria Street because that spot has the most collisions and incidents of emergency braking by motorists and cyclists turning right when a northbound Ion train is coming.
These measures will be added to those already in place throughout the region as part of its ongoing road safety program, with a particular focus on reducing collisions that cause serious injuries and death.