DOCUMENT 3

 

 

logo_BW
 

 

 

 


Summary Report on the Public Consultation Program carried out for the

Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP)

 

 

August 22, 2011

Ottawa, Ontario

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Background........................................................................................................... 3

Consultation Approach.......................................................................................... 4

Outreach................................................................................................................ 5

Comments Received.............................................................................................. 6

World Cafe................................................................................................ 6

ISRP Hotline.............................................................................................. 8

Online Survey............................................................................................ 9

 

Williamson Consulting Inc. ▪ 5929L Jeanne D’Arc Blvd. ▪ Suite 108 ▪ Ottawa, ON

613-590-7880 ▪ www.williamsonconsulting.ca

Background

 

The Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP) was established in 2003 with a 3 E approach to improving road safety – Engineering, Enforcement and Education.  Three City departments were partners in the Program’s delivery – Public Works, the Ottawa Police Service and Ottawa Public Health. 

 

As part of the ongoing monitoring of the program, the IRSP refresh added Emergency Response as a fourth E in addition to Engineering, Enforcement and Education.  Emergency Response recognizes the City’s partners in Fire and the successes they are having as first scene responders using new techniques and rescue approaches.  As well, Paramedics are using new clinical approaches and specialized medical care on scene, which are saving lives and reducing critical injuries.

 

The Program objective is to enhance existing road safety initiatives, as well as create new and innovative ones through the integration and optimization of available City resources and community partners.  It was recognized that a more coordinated approach to road safety programs and awareness of road safety’s importance would help reduce the number of traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities, making Ottawa’s roadways safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicle users. The strengthening and development of new community partner relationships would also play an important role in the Program’s attempt to achieve its objective. 

 

To ensure significant engagement and acceptance of City partners, Advisory Committees, stakeholders (like MADD and the Insurance Bureau of Canada), Transport Canada, MTO, special interest groups, the public and media – a series of consultation activities were implemented in June in order to reach out to these groups to seek input into the program and validate its goals, vision and mission.

Consultation Approach

 

Given the importance of road safety and its impact on every community, a public consultation process was designed that allowed for individuals and groups to participate in the consultation process according to their interest and time available. While the issue is very important, a public consultation process needs to recognize the time constraints of residents and interest groups and provide various methods for input that are simple and do not rely totally on internet-based tools.

 

In order to engage as many residents and interest groups as possible, the consultation process provided three levels of engagement.

 

1.      A half-day consultation process known as a “World Café” was held for the City’s key partners, stakeholders and interest groups. These individuals were contacted directly by the City and asked to participate in this innovative consultation process. The World Café was held on June 20, 2011.

 

2.      An online survey was developed and promoted in paid newspapers ads and in Public Service Announcements. This survey asked participants to provide feedback on the importance of the focus areas and 4 E approach of the IRSP. The survey was available on the City’s website from June 16 until June 26.

 

3.      A road safety phone hotline was established that allowed interested persons to leave comments on the IRSP. This tool was initiated in order to allow persons who did not have a lot of time to still have an opportunity to comment on the IRSP. This tool was also available to those who did not have access to a computer. The hotline was operational from June 16 until June 26.

 

This consultation approach resulted in significant and valuable feedback from the public. The World Café hosted 28 City partners and interest groups; 694 people responded to the online survey and 4 people left messages on the road safety hotline.

Outreach

 

In order to ensure high levels of participation, various channels were used to engage residents and interest groups.

 

For the World Café, the City of Ottawa sent email messages to its road safety contact list explaining the World Café methodology and asking for participation in a half-day session on June 20.

 

To reach the general public for the online survey and the road safely hotline, the City used print and electronic media. Paid ads outlining the focus of the IRSP and the web address for the survey were placed in EMC papers city-wide on June 16. Ads were also placed in 24 HRS, Le Droit and Metro on June 21.

 

In addition to the paid ads in newspapers, a Public Service Announcement (PSA) was distributed to electronic media on June 16. The PSA ran on various electronic media following the June 16 release.

 

In addition, the Manager of Traffic Management and Operational Support Branch, Public Works Department participated in numerous media interviews during the period of June 16 to June 26 which assisted greatly to encourage the general public to participate in the online survey and phone hotline.

Comments Received

 

The comments received through the public consultation process indicate strong support for the road safety focus areas that included:

 

Ø  Distracted Drivers

Ø  Vulnerable Road Users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists)

Ø  Aggressive Drivers

Ø  Seniors, Youths and Children

Ø  Program Goals, Vision & Mission

 

The World Café comment sheets and the online survey results both strongly support the emphasis on distracted drivers, vulnerable road users, aggressive drivers and seniors, youths and children. The hotline numbers were too low to draw any conclusions.

 

The World Café comments sheets and online survey results both strongly support the goals, vision and mission of the IRSP. The hotline participation numbers were too low to draw any conclusions.

 

World Café

 

28 people participated in the World Café held on June 20. The Road Safety World Café was organized to reach out to the community using an innovative, yet simple methodology for hosting conversations about questions that matter. These conversations link and build on each other as people move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into the questions or issues that are most important in their life, work, or community.

 

Using the World Café methodology, the Road Safety World Café was a casual and welcoming event using smaller tables with table cloths for more relaxed discussions. Each table had a facilitator who took notes and briefed each new group about the previous discussions. Each facilitator was tasked with encouraging a dialogue around a specific issue at their table. Prior to the Café, subject specific questions were developed for each table that encouraged discussion and debate on specific subject areas.

 

The following comments are a summary of those received at the World Café.

 

Distracted Drivers

 

·         Best deterrent is enforcement

·         Enforcement program has been good

·         Look at educating about distracted driving at elementary school level – just before they get their first cell phone may be the age group

·         Build upon impaired driving programs

·         Technology is faster than employment of policies/enforcement and education

·         Distracted Driver huge issue with children accessing/putting down coffee

·         Seats for kids, do the safety aspect and how to minimize distraction while driving with kids

·         Opportunity for insurance companies to offer incentives/become involved

 

Vulnerable Road Users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists)

 

·         Education for cyclists and drivers

·         Educate cyclists and children on how to ride their bikes

·         Separation of sidewalks and roads i.e. fencing, distance

·         More police officer to enforce rules of the roads for pedestrians and drivers

·         Cyclists and pedestrians feel they have rights – education & enforcement – speed main killer

·         Enforcement of intoxication (drivers and pedestrians)

·         Better educations for children- wear a helmet- parents provide example

 

Aggressive Drivers

 

·         Photo enforcement

·         More red light camera boxes and promote them

·         Manufacturer responsibility – speed governors, GPS or other monitoring device

·         Training – defensive driving for younger drivers

·         More education/zero tolerance

·         Younger drivers need training in regards to laws, HTA before education

·         Use service clubs to communicate the message about safe driving

·         Retail partnerships

·         City partner with resource centres

 

Seniors, Youth and Children

 

·            Education programs key – high schools, universities important target locations to reach age group

·            Education campaign needs to address culture change in age group, what are acceptable norms, what is right or wrong according to age group

·            Graphic, hard-hitting videos on YouTube, graphic Welsh video showing four girls texting and driving, vehicle T-boned, sounds of neck cracking, parents dead in other car, baby survives

·            Need sessions to help install car seat, need to identify the place to go

·            Need information translated in multiple languages to reach many multicultural groups, should be available through community health centres and resources centres

·            Look to train instructors and bring training to service clubs, daycares (train-the-trainer)

·            Look to possible partnerships with retailers to train selected store staff to help install car seats

·         Children’s Safety Village in Britannia – several participants recalled lessons learned at Safety Village—establish new ones

·         Need better education campaign for police officers and care givers – help them advise older drivers who may need refresher skills or stop driving

 

Program Goals, Vision & Mission

 

·            Is it realistic? 

·            Should be aspiring and therefore should be concrete, add content

·            Inspirational but need to work hard to achieve it – need to deliver

·            Are we getting full representation for all communities

·            5th E?  Evaluation – Has to be done, but how do we communicate it?

·            What are the baseline measures to the refresh of the program

·            How do we measure the culture change and for how long?

 

IRSP hotline

 

In addition, to an online survey and the World Café, residents were invited to comment on the Integrated Road Safety Program by leaving a detailed message on the road safety phone line. Four individuals left messages. Their comments are below:

1.      Cyclists should ride facing oncoming traffic.

2.      There should be more Police enforcement for jaywalking i.e. pedestrians walking against the Don’t Walk Signal.  There should also be more Police enforcement for sidewalk cycling.

3.      Caller made the observation that cyclists do not stop for red lights and that there are lots of drivers that still use hand-held cell phones while driving.  Also, tailgating still seems to be a real problem.

4.      Caller feels that sidewalks need upgrading so that they are more level.  Drivers should slow down as they are entering/leaving driveways.  Also, sidewalk cycling is a real problem – need more Police enforcement.  Also, Province should bring back licensing requirement for bicycles.

 

Online Survey

 

The IRSP online survey was available on the City’s website from June 16 until June 26. During that time 694 responses (complete and incomplete) were received. The completion rate was 78%.

 

The results from the online survey indicate very strong support for the IRSP and the program goals. Aggressive Drivers and Distracted Drivers are considered to be the most critical area for improvement by most respondents although vulnerable road users and seniors, youth and children were also ranked high by those who completed the online survey.

 

When respondents were asked to identify the most effective strategies to deal with aggressive drivers, most indicated that enforcement was most effective followed by education, engineering and emergency response.  When respondents were asked to identify the most effective strategies to deal with distracted drivers, most indicated that enforcement was most effective followed by education, engineering and emergency response.

 

When respondents were asked to identify the most effective strategies to deal with vulnerable road users, most indicated that education was most effective followed by enforcement, engineering and emergency response. When respondents were asked to identify the most effective strategies to deal with seniors, youth and children, most indicated that education was most effective followed by enforcement, engineering and emergency response.

 

The following comments are a small selection of those received through the online survey and are provided to give the reader a sense of the comments received.