Investing in safer roads
We’re helping to make roads safer by improving our built environment.
Road design is critical to keeping everyone on our roads safe. When our roads are safer, it means fewer crashes, injuries and fatalities. It also means fewer damaged vehicles, creating cost savings and more affordable insurance. Improving roads is an investment in the safety of people living in British Columbia.
We work with local road authorities, municipalities, Indigenous communities, the B.C. government, and others to provide cost-share funding, expertise and research for road improvements. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and together, we can make a difference.
The projects
Our road safety team works with road authorities and uses crash data to identify and improve high-risk locations that need road improvements. Since the program began in 1990, we’ve partnered on over 9,000 projects.
All data is from 2020-2024.
Pedestrian safety
We've contributed almost $4 million towards nearly 300 pedestrian improvements made by our partners throughout the province. This includes new sidewalks, crosswalks with countdown timers and flashing lights, lit walkways, traffic lights and accessible sidewalk ramps.
Pictured: ICBC partnered with the City of North Vancouver in 2023 on enhancements to this rapid flashing beacon crosswalk at St George’s and 10th to enhance visibility and pedestrian safety.
Did you know:
Approximately 79% of crashes involving pedestrians happen at intersections in B.C. and over 80% of those result in injuries.
Cyclist safety
In the last 5 years, we invested $780,000 on cyclist safety projects across the province, in partnership with municipalities, local road authorities and the B.C. government. Improvements include adding separated bike paths, shoulder bike lanes, lighting, signage and road markings.
Pictured: ICBC partnered with the City of Kelowna to implement protected cycle tracks, with multi-use pathways and dedicated bike lanes in 2020.
Did you know:
On average, nearly 4 out of 5 crashes involving cyclists occur at intersections in B.C.
Rumble strips
Rumble strips are raised or grooved sections of pavement (typically installed along shoulders, centerlines, or near intersections) that alert drivers through vibration and sound when they drift out of their lane. This simple but effective safety feature helps prevent crashes caused by drowsy or distracted driving, especially single-vehicle run-off-road and head-on collisions. ICBC has invested half a million dollars toward installing rumble strips in the last 5 years.
Pictured: In partnership with the Ministry of Transportation in 2018, ICBC contributed toward both new and improved rumble strips in Hope on Highway 3.
Did you know:
Installing rumble strips on rural highways has been shown to reduce severe collisions by over 20%.
Signage and pavement marking
To improve transportation reliability, safety, and accessibility, we invested over $2.5 million from 2020-2024. This includes road signage and widening for better traffic flow. For pedestrians, it created safe, accessible pathways and crossings.
Pictured: In 2020, we partnered with the B.C. government to install a variable speed limit system along Highway 1 in Chilliwack. The displayed speed limit is lower in bad weather conditions, like ice and fog.
Did you know:
Speed is the most common cause of crashes in B.C. Crashes where speed is a contributing factor account for over 80 fatalities and over 2,000 injuries per year.
Speed control and school safety
Since 2020, we’ve contributed over $1.3 million toward speed control and school safety improvements. Upgrades include adding crosswalk pedestrian signals, pedestrian refuge islands, speed limit signage, speed reader boards, speed bumps and road markings for playground and school zones.
Pictured: We partnered with West Vancouver in 2019 to install speed reader boards to raise awareness of local street speed limits, monitor speeds and calm traffic in the community.
Did you know:
Almost 10% of people injured in crashes in B.C. are under 18. Every year, 51 children are injured in crashes in school and playground zones.
The investment
Over the past 35 years, we’ve invested more than $240 million in road safety improvement projects across B.C.
The last five years have seen over $39 million go towards improvements in these regions.
2020-2024 Investments by region
Region | Total | Number of projects |
|---|---|---|
Fraser Valley | $10,226,000 | 370 |
Greater Vancouver | $9,185,000 | 350 |
North Central | $3,464,000 | 130 |
Southern Interior | $8,046,000 | 260 |
Vancouver Island | $8,103,000 | 380 |
The results
15% fewer crashes causing injuries and fatalities
11% fewer instances of property damage from crashes
Every $1 spent on road improvements resulted in an average of $4.50 in savings, meaning drivers in BC can enjoy lower insurance premiums.
Results are from a 2024 study from a sample of 120 locations
The people
Engineers
A dedicated team of ICBC engineers help create a safer environment for all road users in collaboration with our partners. Their areas of expertise include road safety auditing, traffic operations, roadway design, road safety planning, road safety evaluation and road safety research.
Road Safety and Community Coordinators
Our team of Road Safety and Community Coordinators collaborate closely with police, educational institutions, municipalities, local stakeholders and volunteers across the province to promote road safety and make a positive impact in their communities.
Recognition
The ICBC road improvement program has received various Road Safety awards from Canadian and international bodies:
2014 Transportation Association of Canada Road Safety Engineering Award for the High Risk Corridor Program (in collaboration with RCMP, BC Ministry of Traffic and Infrastructure, BC Coroner’s Office, and Emil Anderson Maintenance Company)
2015 Transportation Association of Canada Decade of Action Road Safety Award
2021 Transportation Association of Canada Technical Achievement Award (in partnership with McElhanney) for Roundabout Workshops.
If you have a suggestion for how to make a road or intersection in your community safer, you can contact your local municipality, highway authority, Indigenous communities, or regional district staff.