Road safety not just city problem

Continued growth and an increase in the volume of traffic seem to be what’s prompted the current study. No doubt the roadway has seen an increase in the number of vehicles since it was taken over by the city. Orléans no longer stops at Tenth Line, and for anyone visiting the area for the first time in a decade or so, Trim Road would be virtually unrecognizable. Gone are the days when heading to Place d’Orléans was like taking the bus to the end of the line.

With all those extra houses and businesses comes extra traffic. And, given how this area is built, the one place the traffic seems to converge is the 174. That it has seen an increase in volume is probably a laughable understatement, as many a commuter can attest.

It’s no secret the road can’t deal with rush-hour capacity. There’s a reason there’s such a push for transit and east-west light rail. There’s a very real and present need to reduce congestion.

The trouble is, the volume isn’t going to decrease anytime soon. With future developments slated for the east end, traffic concerns on the 174 are only going to grow in number. As much as one would hope for better and more efficient transit, chances are these new homeowners will do what’s been done in the past. Some will take transit and some will drive. If trends continue, they’ll mostly be headed downtown.

As the number of vehicles on the road increases, so too do concerns about road safety. More traffic means more opportunities for mistakes.

One way to mitigate that is to physically enhance safety on the roads, whether that means improved lighting, better signage or added protective barriers. It seems lighting has been largely forgotten east of the split. As for barriers, the Jeanne d’Arc overpass might meet technical standards, but that in and of itself doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t warrant additional protections for drivers. While it’s encouraging to know that area will be part of a larger comprehensive review, it would be nice to know what came of the 2006 study. Since barriers were never added, one can only assume the review indicated they weren’t necessary. But what was the rationale? Was it based purely on numbers, or on-site analysis? Or perhaps there was a now-lost recommendation to install barriers.

While physical changes to roads can improve safety, the real power lies in the drivers. Any commuter can share a few (or many) stories of drivers making mind-numbing decisions, whether it be an unsafe (and monumentally stupid) lane changes or someone mistaking the 174 for a racetrack.

While the city has a responsibility to make the infrastructure safe, drivers are equally responsible for what they do in their vehicles. While physical changes to the road are undoubtedly needed, drivers could do with exercising more prudence as well.