Road Safety

2011 Campaign – Bicycle Safety

In 2011, the SAAQ is encouraging its partners to continue their efforts to raise youth awareness about bicycle safety.

Young people under age 15 are of particular concern as this age group represents 20% of cyclists involved in road accidents. According to the estimated degree of risk associated with cyclists, the number of victims per 100,000 people may be 27 for this age group, as opposed to 20 for people over age 25. In 2008, the rate of helmet use among youth aged 10-15 was estimated at 26%, even though head injuries account for approximately 60% of deaths and 30% of serious injuries requiring hospitalization for all age groups.

Here are the awareness campaigns planned for spring and summer 2011.

Working with Police Forces

The SAAQ encourages Québec police forces and Vélo-Sécur (Web site in French only) patrollers to step up awareness efforts on the importance of wearing helmets and obeying safety rules on and near bicycle paths. Their contribution plays a major role in promoting a better sharing of the road between cyclists and other road users.

This year, the campaign runs between May 16 and June 20, 2011. The 6th edition of the Safe Cycling Guide and Let's All Share the Road... Safely leaflet are available from all police forces and Vélo-Sécur patrollers.

Public and Community Efforts

In 2011, the SAAQ is offering a kit called Les énigmes de Génivélo (available in French only) to police officers for purposes of organizing bicycle safety awareness activities for children aged 7 to 12. Some 3,500 kits have been distributed since 1997 and police officers are encouraged to distribute them to interested community groups (Optimist Clubs, recreation services, etc.) and physical education teachers. Each year, more than 1,000 helmets are distributed among police forces requesting equipment to motivate young people to participate in Génivélo activities.

A Partnership with the Fédération des sports cyclistes du Québec

In 2011, the SAAQ teamed up again with the Tour du silence (Ride of Silence) in Québec. This bike tour is held every year, on the third Wednesday in May, everywhere in the world simultaneously. The tour aims to make road users aware of the vulnerability of cyclists and honour the numerous cyclists who have died. This year, the event took place in 28 municipalities throughout the province.

In 2010, 19 cyclists died on our roads, which is 3 more than in 2009. The number of deaths for this category of road users has varied between 12 and 20 per year since 2005. Collisions involving a bicycle and a vehicle cause more than 80% of cycling deaths. These collisions also account for between 20 and 25% of hospitalizations among cyclists.

The SAAQ is taking advantage of this activity to remind the public of a few safety rules that can reduce the risk of accident. Cyclists must obey traffic signals, signal their intentions and be clearly visible. Motorists should leave at least one metre between their vehicle and a cyclist when passing in urban areas and at least 1.5 metres in rural areas. They should also remember that cyclists may have to swerve to avoid obstacles.

A partnership with Vélo-Québec for a campaign on sharing the road

Throughout the summer, Vélo Québec and its partners are running a campaign on sharing the road. Under the theme of “Ils font si bon ménage dans nos garages. Pourquoi pas sur nos routes?”  [They get along so well in our garages, why not on the road?–our translation], the campaign aims to promote mutual respect among motorists and cyclists and the safe behaviours they must adopt on the road.

The campaign will be deployed on television from June 8 to September 6, 2011, in specialized magazines and on Facebook. In addition, on the partagelaroute Web site (in French only), cyclists and motorists can watch 8 video clips that provide tips and advice, and also sign the Charter for better road sharing.

Vélo Québec has enlisted the help of a number of partners for this campaign, including the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec and the Ministère des Transports du Québec, both major partners, as well as the Minstère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux, CAA-Québec, the Société de transport de Montréal, the Société de transport de Laval, the cities of Laval, Longueuil, Québec, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal.

.

Top of SectionTop of Page