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Canadian Road Safety News Digest – March 1-31, 2020
April 8, 2020 | Categories: Quick Scan
Last Updated on April 8, 2020
Using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Behind the Wheel is more Distracting than Text Messaging
March 23, 2020, Auto123.com (TORONTO, ONTARIO)
Technology is increasingly omnipresent on-board today’s newer vehicles, not surprising given that it delivers both increased convenience and more safety. That said, while features such as blind spot monitoring, pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control make cars safer, other technological innovations inside the vehicle are making driving more distracting and dangerous.
This is according to a new study by IAM RoadSmart, a UK road safety organisation established in 1956, indicates that using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while driving is more dangerous than driving while drunk.
NHTSA revising safety rules to adapt to autonomous cars
March 23, 2020, Yahoo News (WASHINGTON, D.C.)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking what it calls a "historic first step for the Department in its efforts to remove unnecessary and unintended barriers to innovative vehicle designs." The agency released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) last week aimed at rewriting regulations to account for the particulars of passenger-carrying autonomous vehicles without driving controls — such as a retractable steering wheel — and self-driving cars that won't have passengers, like delivery vehicles.
Which safety features are the most essential if I’m buying a new car?
March 16, 2020, The Globe and Mail (TORONTO, ONTARIO)
Of all the safety features available now, automatic emergency braking is the most effective at stopping crashes, says an insurance industry group.
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) looked at police reports and insurance claims in the United States to compare the crash rates of cars with and without advanced safety features.
Ontario's Increased Speed Limit Pilot Finds Wide Public Support
March 11, 2020, Ontario Ministry of Transportation (TORONTO, ONTARIO)
Today, the Ontario government announced that its pilot project to increase speed limits to 110km/h on three sections of 400-series highways in Southern Ontario is getting wide support.
"People are telling us loud and clear that they support a safe and moderate increase to speed limits on these highways," said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. "The increased speed limit pilot is just one way that our government is improving our transportation network — bringing it in line with other jurisdictions to get people where they need to go when they want to get there."
Thousands of charges laid over last decade thanks to RID program: SGI
March 10, 2020, CKRM The Source (REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN)
SGI’s Report Impaired Drivers (RID) program has made a difference on Saskatchewan roads since its creation in 2010.
There was a celebration at SGI headquarters on Tuesday morning in Regina marking the 10-year anniversary of the program and how it has helped keep the province’s roads safer.
Concern raised over fatally injured fatigued drivers who also tested positive for drugs
March 9, 2020, TIRF (OTTAWA, ONTARIO)
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) announces the release of a new fact sheet, Fatigue-Related Fatal Collisions in Canada, 2000-2016. The fact sheet, sponsored by Desjardins, summarizes the characteristics of fatally injured victims involved in fatigue-related collisions in Canada from 2000 to 2016…
Rethinking Right Turn on Red (RTOR)
March 6, 2020, Novae Res Urbis (TORONTO, ONTARIO)
City of Toronto Ward 11 (University-Rosedale) Councillor Mike Layton is calling on city staff to investigate how prohibiting right-turns-on-red (RTOR) might help Toronto meet its Vision Zero goal of making streets safer for vulnerable road users.
Layton is expected to introduce the motion at the Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting on Wednesday. He’s asking the city’s general manager of transportation services, Barbara Gray, to study the efficacy of RTOR prohibitions in reducing auto collisions with pedestrians on city streets when she reports back to committee in late 2020 on the safety implications of speed limit reductions.
B.C. parents sued over high school house party say they couldn't have predicted deadly impaired driving crash
March 6, 2020, CBC News (VICTORIA, B.C.)
Two parents being sued over a high school birthday party held in their home nearly a decade ago told their side of the story in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday, saying they couldn't have known two teenaged guests would get into a deadly rollover crash on their way home.
Province introduces legislation to allow safe testing of automated vehicles on Manitoba roads
March 4, 2020, Government of Manitoba (WINNIPEG, MANITOBA)
The Manitoba government has introduced legislation that would allow testing of automated vehicles on provincial roads, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today.
“Development of vehicle technology, including automated self-driving vehicles, is progressing rapidly worldwide and these changes will help make Manitoba competitive in attracting business and keeping pace with other jurisdictions,” said Schuler…
TRB Newsletter Links to Road Safety-Related Reports
Transportation Research Board, March 3, 2020 (WASHINGTON, D.C.)
- Issues in Autonomous Vehicle Testing and Deployment, released by the U.S. Congressional Research Service
- Impact of Smart Phones’ Interaction Modality on Driving Performance for Conventional and Autonomous Vehicles, released by the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University
- Driving Road Safety Innovation: IRU Survey of Mobility and Logistics of Operators in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, released by the World Road Transport Organization
- Effectiveness of Drink Driving Countermeasures: National Policy Framework, released by Austroads (Australia)
Alberta may become the latest province to decriminalize drunk driving. Here’s why
March 2, 2020, The Star (EDMONTON, ALBERTA)
Advocates and defence lawyers are growing worried as the Alberta government looks at largely decriminalizing drunk driving in the province, a surprising reversal in the United Conservative Party’s original stance on the issue.
The reverse in policy for the United Conservatives, who blasted the NDP government for considering a similar change in the laws when they were the Opposition in 2018, concerns anti-drunk driving advocate Sheri Arsenault.
Information about mandatory Class 1 driver training
March 2, 2020, SGI (REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN)
Mandatory training requirements for drivers who want to be licensed to drive semi trucks took effect March 15, 2019.
This change was announced to make Saskatchewan roads safer for commercial semi-truck drivers and everyone who shares the road with them.
Too early to determine whether pot-impaired driving on the increase
Toronto Sun, March 1, 2020 (TORONTO, ONTARIO)
Whether or not pot smoking has driven up cases of impaired driving has been hotly debated since cannabis was legalized in October 2018.
But a recent report out of Edmonton suggests that there has been a slight increase in the prevalence in drug-impaired driving since legalization.
Canadian Events & Conferences in 2020
POSTPONED - Canada’s Safest Driver Contest – By Parachute
Canada-wide
TBD
CANCELLED - 7th Ontario Road Safety Forum AND
CARSP Young Professionals’ Meet & Greet
Toronto, Ontario
To be rescheduled
CANCELLED - CCMTA Annual Meeting
Charlottetown, PEI
May 31-June 3, 2020
POSTPONED CARSP/PRI 2020 Joint Conference
Montreal, Quebec
June 15-18, 2020
POSTPONED - 6th International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
June 28-July 1, 2020