Speeding, and pedestrian and cyclist safety along the Westsyde Road Corridor have long been concerns of both residents and the City. In 2005, the City and ICBC jointly commissioned a consultant to conduct a comprehensive traffic safety and operational review of the Westsyde Road Corridor.

Based on the consultant's recommendations and input from the RCMP, ICBC, Speed Watch, Westsyde schools, Westsyde residents and City staff, Safer City developed an implementation strategy that effectively encompasses Engineering, Enforcement and Education, with a goal of increasing awareness and enforcement of key safety issues related to all road users utilizing the Westsyde Road Corridor.

Engineering

• Crosswalk upgrades on Westsyde Road:
  Settlement Road, Bebek Road (existing crosswalks were upgraded to special school crosswalks with pedestrian activated flashing amber signals).
  
  Rue Chez Nous, Parkview Drive, Woodhaven Drive, Overlander Drive (existing crosswalks were upgraded to include overhead mounted pedestrian signs).



• "Yield Here To Pedestrians" signs and markings have been installed at crosswalks on Westsyde Road at Overlander Road and Westsyde Road at Settlement Road. These new traffic control devices are designed to improve pedestrian safety at crossings on multi-lane roadways.

Enforcement

• Several Three Strikes, You're Out speed campaigns aimed at educating motorists and enforcing the speed zone have been conducted at strategic locations along Westsyde Road by RCMP and Speed Watch. Speed Watch volunteers set up speed zone signs informing motorists of the posted speed (Strike 1), then a little further down the road they set up speed reader board signs informing the motorists what their current speed is (Strike 2). Just past that, the RCMP monitor the speed and issue violation tickets to those motorists who continue to exceed the posted speed limit (Strike 3).



• The RCMP continues to carry out random, roving enforcement operations along Westsyde Road on a regular basis, with tickets issued to violators.

Education

• The RCMP and Safer City conducted "hands-on" crosswalk training sessions at the new Special Crosswalks with primary students at David Thompson Elementary and Arthur Stevenson Elementary.



• Pedestrian and motorist "Walk Safe, Drive Safe" tip sheets were distributed to Westsyde schools and residences.



• Various Media Campaigns were conducted to educate motorists and pedestrians about the various components of the Westsyde Road Integrated Corridor Project (crosswalk upgrades, crosswalk training with schools, "Yield Here To Pedestrians" traffic control devices, Three Strikes, You're Out Speed campaigns)