June 8, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta: The Safer Roads Alliance (formally know as the Coalition for Safer Alberta Roads), along with Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) conducted three road safety assessments in the communities of Lac La Biche, Fox Creek, and Highway 40 (Municipal District of Greenview), in the summer of 2021. These assessments were completed using, TIRF’s Action2Zero learning centre created in partnership with Desjardins.

Action2Zero is a web-based resource that contains knowledge and tools to help communities assess road safety in their community and implement strategic road safety plans. This resource also measures various elements of road safety and ties it to a 5-star rating system – a measurement that everyone can understand. The Action2Zero community-based program identifies which road safety measures are underway or have been implemented, and where greater efforts are required for a community to achieve a 5-star rating that is based on research and international best practice.

The community of Lac La Biche has begun to implement key learnings from the Action2Zero assessment. Fox Creek and Highway 40 (Municipality of Greenview) are in the process of reviewing their assessments.

“We have been thrilled by the commitment of the community of Lac La Biche, to not only participate in this assessment, but to then take demonstrable steps to implement and action what we learned, this can only have a positive impact on road safety in the region,” says Debbie Hammond, Executive Director, Safer Roads Alliance.

One of the key lightbulb moments that resulted from the assessment in Lac La Biche, is the importance of working with local peace officers. Peace officers play an integral role in enforcing traffic laws as well as engaging community stakeholders to reduce risky behaviours on the road. “Our peace officers, spend a significant amount of time on road safety. The tools and training that we can access through the Safer Roads Alliance and TIRF will support our road safety initiatives and help us to reduce unsafe driver behavior and road incidents,” Chris Clark, Manager, Enforcement Services, Lac La Biche County.

The Alliance and TIRF are working with peace officers to provide them with training, tools and resources, that will incorporate the latest research, and support them in their road safety initiatives.

The Alliance is also working with peace officers to support their community traffic safety committee. Through this committee, the Alliance and TIRF, have identified additional ways that we can work together:

• Work to improve data sharing and road data analysis
• Alliance and TIRF will develop information and tools to help address the three key areas
  of concern around driver behaviour: speeding, aggressive driving and impaired driving
• Develop a regional road safety calendar that is based on regional issues and concerns

“Ultimately, road safety is a shared responsibility. Using the Action2Zero learning centre can help communities inspire leadership, engage important stakeholders, access needed expertise, and improve resource allocation,” says Robyn Robertson, TIRF President & CEO. “As more communities utilize the Action2Zero learning centre, we can establish networks and coordinated efforts that enable communities to share learning and facilitate problem-solving at all levels.”

About the Safer Roads Alliance

The Safer Roads Alliance is a member-driven, not-for-profit organization that works with our members to prevent
highway fatalities and injuries across Alberta and Western Canada. Through education and advocacy, we promote
better driving habits so that we can achieve our mission to get everyone home safely. Visit our website, to learn
more: saferalbertaroads.ca, or follow us on Twitter: @SaferRoadsAlln or Facebook: @SaferRoadsAlliance.

About the Traffic Injury Research Foundation:

The vision of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) is to ensure people using roads make it home safely
every day by eliminating road deaths, serious injuries and their social costs. TIRF’s mission is to be the knowledge
source for safer road users and a world leader in research, program and policy development, evaluation, and
knowledge transfer. TIRF is a registered charity and depends on grants, awards, and donations to provide services
for the public. Visit www.tirf.ca and find us on LinkedIn: Traffic Injury Research Foundation,
Twitter: @TIRFCANADA & Instagram: @tirfcanada_diad

For more information:
Trevor Beckman
403-461-7733 or tbeckman@storycommuncations.ca