By Neil Dubord, Delta Police Department
In recent weeks, a spotlight has been cast on pedestrian safety in Delta. In North Delta we have seen a spike in the number of pedestrian collisions due to poor visibility and inclement weather.
Pedestrian-involved collisions are a key concern for the Delta Police as the chance of significant injury or death is much higher than with vehicle collisions. In relation to this, blogger Sandy James Planner wrote about our “Vision Zero” campaign, the goal of which is to see zero fatalities this year on Delta’s roads. Here is a bit of what she had to say:
“In 2017, with their focus on speed enforcement and distraction, the Delta Police Department issued 20 per cent more traffic violation tickets (8,079), and were a visible presence on the roads and in the community. Traffic fatalities were reduced by 50 per cent, and there were no pedestrian fatalities in 2017.
“Enforcing speed limits and dealing with driver distraction meant that more families were not ripped apart by road violence. Kudos to Chief Dubord and the Delta Police Department who have gone on record and who are proactively working to achieve Vision Zero-no traffic fatalities…within the city of Delta.”
In her blog, Planner also writes about prevention, saying “The best way to reduce fatalities and serious injuries is to enhance visibility, reduce speeds on roads and highways, change driver behaviour and have better designed roads that ‘drive’ at the speed limit intended.”
There is a relationship on our roads between drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Road safety initiatives can be approached keeping all road users in mind, and examining initiatives involving the three E’s: enforcement, engineering and education. Enforcement and police presence on our road ways will modify behaviour. Road and intersection design play a significant role in collision rates. And lastly, but most importantly, is education — an understanding that your actions have an impact on road safety.
I appreciate Planner for blog post on Vision Zero; the more we get the message out there, the greater the impact we will have. In the meantime, this is a friendly reminder that Delta Police will be present throughout the community doing enforcement. So slow down, put the phone down, buckle up and please watch for pedestrians.
For more blogging from Sandy James Planner, visit walkmetrovan.ca.
Neil Dubord is the Delta Police Department’s chief constable. He joined the DPD on June 29, 2015 after three years as chief of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police and 25 years with the Edmonton Police Service, where he was the deputy chief in charge of the community policing bureau.