How the city improves road safety
Waterloo is working toward a future with zero traffic-related deaths or serious injuries. This approach is called Vision Zero.
Learn what we’re doing through our Road Safety Action Plan to make streets safer for everyone.
- Road Safety Action Plan
- What Vision Zero means
- How we're improving road safety
- Watch our Vision Zero videos
- Get involved
- Transportation partners
Road Safety Action Plan
The Road Safety Action Plan brings together our plans, data and partnerships in one clear strategy. Our goal is to reduce collisions and improve safety as the city grows and our transportation needs change.
Visit our track road and safety progress page to learn how we identify high-risk areas and measure progress.
What Vision Zero means
Vision Zero is the belief that everyone has the right to move safely in their community. The philosophy works to end traffic related injuries and fatalities, while increasing the safety and mobility for all.
It’s based on 3 key ideas:
- traffic deaths are preventable
- roads should be designed for human error
- saving lives is not expensive
Learn more about the Vision Zero philosophy in the Transportation Master Plan.
How we're improving road safety
We use a 5-part approach to make streets safer.
Evaluation
We collect and review traffic and collision data each year to find high-risk locations and plan safety improvements such as crossings, calming measures and other solutions.
Learn how we apply this data on our Traffic calming page and Pedestrian crossovers page.
Engagement
We meet regularly with community members and transportation partners to shape safer policies together.
Education
We are working with residents and transportation partners to teach road safety and promote awareness of speed limits, signs and safe behaviour for all road users.
Engineering
We design roads that protect people by planning for human error. This includes raised intersections, flexible speed signs, lower speed limits near homes and schools, and safe, accessible construction zones.
Read more about how design changes help slow drivers on the Traffic calming page
Enforcement
Waterloo Region Police Services handles enforcement beyond parking. We work with enforcement officers to educate the community and encourage safe use of our roads.
Together, we focus on preventing unsafe driving, parking and other behaviours that put people at risk.
Get involved
Road safety starts in the community. Learn how to support safe travel in your neighbourhood on our Help make roads safer in your community page.
Transportation partners
We work with local and regional partners to design a safer road system for everyone: