OPHA Task Group Project - Increase Driver Awareness and Knowledge of Safely Sharing the Road with Cyclists – Part A and Part B - While the purpose of making the changes is to increase motorist understanding of sharing the road and the rights and responsibilities of motorists and cyclists, ultimately the change will come through people learning to drive. For the most part, people who are learning to drive are youth. Therefore the target audience for this initiative is youth. Part C – The target is road users.
Project Scope:
Need: In Ontario, 58.6% of adults are overweight or obese.[1] Obesity is associated with many chronic diseases and in 2005, obesity-related chronic conditions accounted for $4.3 billion in direct ($1.8 billion) and indirect ($2.5 billion) costs[2]. Physical activity is known to help control weight gain and has many protective health benefits. Even small increases in physical activity have been shown to decrease mortality.[3] Many people identify that they are not physically active because it is too hard for them to get to places to be active or that they are unable to afford recreational activities[4]. We have also decreased natural physical activity through walking and cycling to destinations (active transportation)[5]. As stated in the Green Paper for an Ontario Bicycling Policy, by Share the Road Cycling Coalition, March 2010, ‘Sixty percent of Ontarians say that they would prefer to cycle more often; they indicate that the primary reason they do not ride more often is they are “worried about safety on the road”.‘[6] By increasing motorist awareness of what to do when they come upon a cyclist on the road, and providing education for the cyclist on how to cycle on the road, this may increase safety for the cyclist which may in turn lead to more cyclists on the road supporting an increase in physical activity. It is important to consider that motorists are also cyclists and that people may switch back and forth between modes of transportation depending on the situation.
Purpose: This project has three distinct components. Part A - To increase the driver education component of safely sharing the road with cyclists through increasing the cycling information in the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook. Part B - To create policy that driver education companies must include sharing the road with cyclists education into their teaching. Part C - To increase knowledge of current motorists on sharing the roads and the rights and responsibilities of cyclists. There is more than one type of road user. Through these policy changes, road users are going to become more aware of sharing the road.
Objectives:
Part A
Within the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook have information on:
- Recognizing that bicycles are vehicles and must follow the same rules of the road as motorists and therefore belong on the road
- How to handle driving when there are cyclists on the road, e.g. how to pass a cyclist, managing four way stops with cyclists, narrow lanes, etc.
- Understanding cycling signage and line markings
Part B
Within driver education programs:
- In the classroom setting, have a cycling safety educational component that reminds the students that as cyclists they also need to obey all rules of the road (understanding new drivers are still likely using active transportation to get from one place to another)
- Teach new motorists how to share the road with cyclists
Part C
Within the driver licensing process:
- Have educational messages printed and inserted with the driver license renewal forms
- Have posters at the Service Ontario Centres and DriveTest Centres (license renewal centres) that remind motorists of the rights and responsibilities of cyclists as well as how to share the road
Key Deliverables:
Part A
That enhanced cycling information will be included in the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook
Part B
That there will be policy changes made such that cycling education will be included in driver training programs.
Part C
Create messaging for insertion into the license renewal process
If this is a project you would like to become involved in, please contact Jackie Gervais (one of the project leads) at jackie.gervais@niagararegion.ca or 905-688-8248 ext 7332. Currently we are working on Part A of the proposal.
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[1] As Taken from the Stats Canada website, November 22, 2010 http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-620-m/2005001/t/adults-adultes/4053592-eng.htm as reported from 2004 data.
[2] As taken from the Heart and Stroke website, November 22, 2010 http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/site/c.pvI3IeNWJwE/b.3581729/k.359A/Statistics.htm
[3] As taken from CJMA website, November 22, 2010 http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/174/6/801 CMAJ • March 14, 2006; 174 (6). doi:10.1503/cmaj.051351
[4] As taken from the Canadian Lifestyle and Research Institute, November 22, 2010 http://www.cflri.ca/eng/statistics/surveys/documents/p04_section_e.pdf
[5] As taken from the Canadian Lifestyle and Research Institute, November 22, 2010 http://www.cflri.ca/eng/statistics/surveys/documents/p04_section_e.pdf
[6] When Ontario Bike, Ontario Benefits, A Green Paper for an Ontario Bicycling Policy, Share the Road Cycling Coalition, March 2010