In a recent Sarnia Journal article, Learning from Tragedy: How Lambton County Can Improve Traffic Safety, several serious and fatal collisions in October were highlighted, including a three-vehicle crash at Courtright Line and Mandaumin Road that sparked a petition by local resident Kailey Dalgety.
The article also referenced a new report from the Crash Analysis Studio at Strong Towns, titled “Beyond Blame: How Cities Can Learn from Crashes to Create Safer Streets Today.” The report identifies several key factors contributing to traffic accidents and highlights the lack of institutional mechanisms for making the necessary changes that could save lives.
In response to these findings, Strong Towns has presented a series of recommendations for city officials and local leaders to take steps toward reducing traffic hazards and preventing future crashes.
Strong Towns recommends that local governments create a Crash Response Team to investigate fatal or traumatic crashes. This team would be responsible for collecting critical data, analyzing the causes of the incident, and using this information to prevent similar crashes in the future, rather than just assigning blame.
They also advocate for the creation of a local Crash Analysis Studio to conduct in-depth investigations into traffic incidents and use those insights to inform future street designs and policies.
To address hazardous conditions promptly, Strong Towns recommends using temporary traffic control devices to manage dangerous situations while permanent solutions are being developed. This step could help reduce the risk of further accidents in the short term.
Furthermore, Strong Towns suggests updating local street standards to prioritize safety over speed and traffic flow. By focusing on safer road designs, cities can better protect all road users, especially vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists.
Strong Towns hopes that these recommendations can encourage city officials and local leaders to take immediate steps and foster a culture of proactive traffic safety, helping to reduce accidents and make streets safer for everyone—whether they’re driving, walking, or biking. The measures outlined in the report offer actionable solutions that could help address the traffic safety challenges highlighted in Lambton County.
Another key suggestion is the implementation of bike and walk audits for all urban projects. These audits would ensure that the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is considered as carefully as the safety of drivers.
To ensure these measures are effectively integrated, Strong Towns recommends assigning an individual or team to make traffic safety a central responsibility within the city’s or county’s urban planning processes. This would guarantee that road safety becomes a fundamental aspect of all planning decisions.
Chuck Marohn, founder of Strong Towns, stresses, “We have the ability to learn something from each crash. The only thing we need now is the desire to obtain that knowledge.”
For those eager to advocate for change in Lambton County, Strong Towns offers a free course on conducting a local Crash Analysis Studio, as well as workshops tailored for cities and community leaders looking for expert guidance on building a local model.
