Region of Waterloo report puts roundabout safety under the microscope
Roundabouts are under the microscope in Waterloo region as regional councillors are reviewing the safety of the road design following a pair of serious collisions involving pedestrians.
Intersections like the one at Erb Street and Ira Needles Boulevard in Waterloo are under renewed focus following a pair of serious crashes in December just days apart involving pedestrians at roundabouts -- including a fatality.
“It’s kind of nerve-wracking sometimes,” said Waterloo region resident Nicholas.
The Region of Waterloo has prepared a report focusing on road safety concerns, which shows there are an average of four injury collisions every day in the region.
On Monday, a pair of pedestrian-involved crashes again brought the issue into focus after a 58-year-old man in Cambridge was sent to an out-of-region hospital with serious injuries, while a pedestrian and two others were hurt in a Kitchener crash at a busy intersection.
Despite the recent incidents, the road safety program report indicates roads are getting safer.
“There is a level of, I guess, heightened anxiety because you’re looking at many different things,” said Region of Waterloo Coun. Colleen James.
Adding: “There’s still a lot of work to be done, education to be done, but also navigating some of the things that have come up in council like speeding.”
A ten-year trend ending in 2020 shows the number of vehicular collisions per capita has been on the decline. The same is shown for pedestrian collisions.
When it comes to fatal crashes, there's a steep drop in the trend with an uptick from 2019 to 2020.
“The research does show that the fatalities and the seriousness of accidents are far less with roundabouts, but I do think as we continue to grow, it’s going to be an adjustment for the community,” said Coun. James.
The report said what does not work to slow traffic and make roads safer is lower posted speed limits and traffic control. Localized police enforcement, driver feedback signs and special pavement markings.
What does work, according to the report, is urbanizing roads, narrower lanes, raised medians and refuge islands, driveways and developments close to roads.
When it comes to crosswalks versus signalized intersections, the report indicates in nearly every case where a traffic signal is installed collisions have jumped.
There are plans to continue evolving intersection design, including protected intersections, as well as a study on traffic calming in rural hamlets, and reviews of all-way stops, and pedestrian crossings.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Former Sask. massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients has day parole revoked
A former massage therapist who pleaded guilty to a string of sexual assaults has had his day parole revoked.