Transportation and Works
April 22, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works:

Road Safety Roundtables Encourage Dialogue Between Stakeholders

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to talk about engaging with our partners, enforcement agencies, and stakeholders in industry on the importance of prioritizing road safety. Provincial roads and highways are used by our residents and visitors alike. Whether travelling or working on these roads, personal safety is critically important, and each of us has a responsibility to help ensure everyone’s safety needs are met.

With this in mind, the Department of Transportation and Works held the first Road Safety Roundtable in the fall of 2013. A second roundtable was held in fall 2014, and it is anticipated that a third will take place this fall. The purpose of the roundtables is to encourage dialogue between stakeholders on how we can make our provincial roads a safer place for all.

The roundtables include presentations by stakeholders and discussions based on three pillars to creating a safe highway system: engineering, education and enforcement. A broad range of topics has been discussed, for example: traffic control; site control; engineering solutions that enhance safe work practices during road maintenance and construction; communications between stakeholders; and development of methods of educating drivers about safe driving practices in and around construction sites.

The roundtables have been the impetus for the initiation of a safety awareness program which includes a media campaign sponsored by Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Safety Association, law enforcement agencies, and government.

Past attendees at the roundtables include representatives from Transportation and Works, Motor Vehicle Registration, the Heavy Civil Association, Occupational Health and Safety, the Construction Safety Association, NAPE, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador. I would like to thank all those who have attended and hope you will continue to participate at the next roundtable. Your contributions are valuable and critical to the process of ensuring safety is prioritized and upheld.

I encourage all Honourable Members and motorists to always consider how each of us can create a culture of road safety in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you.

2015 04 22                             2:35 p.m.