(Ottawa) – At City Hall today, Share the Road Cycling Coalition – in partnership with Safer Roads Ottawa, the National Capital Heavy Construction Association, Citizens for Safe Cycling, the Regional Coroner’s Office and the Ottawa Police Service – launched the “Stay Safe, Stay Back” campaign, which increases road safety by raising awareness about the blind spots for large trucks.
Road users may be aware a truck has blind spots, but not know just how much area around the vehicle is affected. The most vulnerable people are cyclists and pedestrians.
“Cycling is on the rise in our community and provides a healthy and convenient way to get around in Ottawa.” said Mayor Jim Watson “This is a great reminder to all road users to be patient, aware and vigilant.”
The event provided an opportunity for everyone in attendance to sit in the driver seat of the truck and experience first-hand what the driver can and can’t see. Most participants are surprised to learn just how big the blind spots on a truck really are.
“The safety of both drivers and cyclists is at the heart of this campaign,” said Jamie Stuckless Executive Director of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition. “It’s about getting the message out there. It is not about assigning fault, it’s about safety. It’s that simple.”
As part of the campaign, the National Capital Heavy Construction Association will place warning decals on their trucks to remind everyone, particularly cyclists, of the blind spots.
“Around our trucks, the message is quite clear: stay back and please don’t pass on the right, stay safe,” said Mr. Perry Crozier, President of the National Capital Heavy Construction Association.
Trucks behave differently in traffic then cars do. They need a large turning radius and it is important to give them space.
“It can be difficult for a truck driver to see a cyclist, so do not pass a truck on the right in the same lane, or coast to the front of a stop sign or traffic light between the truck and the curb,” said Heather Shearer, a volunteer at Citizens for Safe Cycling.
An Ontario Coroner’s Review into Cycling Deaths released in 2011, showed that of 129 deaths between 2006 and 2010, 18 involved trucks.
“We encourage all Ontarians to take personal responsibility for their own safety and for the safety of all road users,” said Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion, Regional Supervising Coroner of Ottawa.
The campaign launch includes messaging for cyclists and drivers which can be found at http://staysafestayback.ca/. It also includes a Public Service Announcement about trucks and cyclist found here.
The Share the Road Cycling Coalition (www.sharetheroad.ca) is a provincial cycling advocacy and policy organization launched in 2008. It unites partners, stakeholders, cycling enthusiasts and stakeholders from across Ontario, to work with and on behalf of municipalities to enhance their ability to make their communities more bicycle- friendly and advocate for an enhanced provincial role. Core to the organization’s mission and mandate are safety, education and awareness campaigns.
The “Stay Safe, Stay Back” Campaign was launched by Share the Road in 2013 through a partnership with the Canadian Automobile Association and partners in the municipal sector and the heavy trucking industry. The campaign aims to educate all road users about key issues relating to heavy truck safety, including staying out of a truck’s blind spot, especially at intersections. In addition, the campaign serves as a reminder to drivers to be extra vigilant around vulnerable road users, emphasizing the importance of keeping cyclists safe and in sight when arriving at an intersection.
This initiative supports the Safer Roads Ottawa Program which is a leading community partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health and the Public Works Department who are committed to preventing or eliminating road deaths and serious injuries for all people in the City of Ottawa, through culture change, community engagement, and development of a sustainable safe transportation environment.