October 2005 Regional News Releases
ICBC program gets results, stop sign study confirms — October 31
ICBC program gets results, stop sign study confirms — October 31
ICBC working with cities to calm residential streets
A simple measure taken by ICBC and the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby is showing tremendous results in terms of road safety on some residential streets.
The program, called “stop sign infill,” consists of installing stop signs alternately at every second intersection in residential neighbourhoods. The goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions in residential neighbourhoods, and to produce a traffic calming effect in neighbourhoods by discouraging motorists from using side streets as short cuts.
Two civil engineering experts completed an evaluation of the project earlier this year. They examined 133 intersections in Vancouver that had been part of the infill project, comparing them with the same number of similar but unmarked intersections. Their evaluation indicated that injury collisions were reduced by 50 to 80 per cent and collisions overall went down by 40 to 60 per cent following this type of stop sign installation.
“Many different circumstances can lead to a change in the number of collisions, but in this case we’re satisfied that the stop sign installation was the significant factor in these results,” said John Pump, ICBC manager of the Road Improvement Program.
“ICBC invests in road improvements and design because preventing crashes means low and stable rates for our customers,” said Pump.
Sylvia Kirk of the City of Vancouver Engineering Services Department said that frequent requests from residents for increased traffic control have made the stop sign infill program a popular initiative. “Stop sign infills have been in high demand throughout the City and we are committed to improving traffic conditions for local residents.”
Stop signs were installed at approximately 1,450 residential intersections in Vancouver and Burnaby between 1998 and 2003 in a joint project between ICBC and road authorities in those cities.
ICBC’s Road Improvement Program works with communities to help them consider safety issues in the planning stage of roadways and buildings; takes on engineering and education efforts to help communities manage traffic and roadways as safely as possible; and finds and tests new ways to prevent crashes.
In 2004, ICBC contributed $6 million to road improvement projects throughout the province, with additional funding provided by provincial and local road authorities.
For more information contact:
Doug Henderson
Tel: (604) 982-1332 or (604) 786-2579
