foreword - City of Pickering

City of Pickering January 2003
Safer Streets Traffic Management Strategy
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5.0 ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION
5.1 ENFORCEMENT
Traffic safety is dependent on a number of factors including the provision of regular enforcement
initiatives. Most motorists are educated about the “Rules of the Road” when they are subjected
to theoretical testing and in-car practical schooling to earn the privileges of obtaining a driver’s
licence. Following these challenges, however, the continued education of drivers is fairly nonexistent
unless a regulatory infraction is completed that causes an accident or is subject to
enforcement and a set fine. Although this type of education is not well received by road users, it
quickly does remind a motorist of the primary rules of the road and may serve to change their
inappropriate driving style for a period of time.
As can be expected, if the enforcement component of safe traffic operations is reduced to
minimal levels, the behaviour of motorists will change for the worse. Unsafe travel speeds will
occur, stop sign compliance will decrease and the overall safe operating environment of the
roadway will suffer. Attempts to counteract the absence of enforcement through engineering
may not always resolve the situation. In particular, the reduction of maximum speed limits to
unreasonable rates and the posting of technically unwarranted all-way stop signs will prove
ineffective especially without regular enforcement.
Matters need be addressed to obtain an increased level of Police enforcement on City streets.
5.2 EDUCATION
Providing an understanding of the basics of traffic operations is an important key to maintaining
the efficiency and safety of the transportation system. Education must not only be directed at the
road user but also at the residents that live on a particular street where traffic concerns exist.
Education may take many forms from standard traffic signing for the road user to a simple
explanation or the completion of a full operational study for residents.
Road users must be continually reminded of the potential hazards on roadways through the
installation of standard traffic control devices. Messages can be effectively conveyed to the
motorist by properly applying the use of speed signs, stops signs, warning signs, pavement
markings and other traffic control devices. When a motorist ignores these messages, however,
they not only compromise their own safety but that of other drivers and neighbourhood residents.
One type of education, which is of utmost importance to address these inappropriate driving
styles, is enforcement. Other education means may also include the undertaking of a
Neighbourhood Traffic Watch Program or developing brochures and flyers that may influence
and improve a motorist’s driving attitude.
Residents must also be educated on the basics of traffic operations. Concerned residents should
be made to understand that an efficient network of roads must exist in the City to allow for the
movement of people and goods. Local, collector and arterial roads are respectively designed to
carry higher volumes of traffic at generally higher speeds. Efforts should also be made to
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