Read our submission to the Active Transportation Advisory Committee
A proposed Vision Zero motion would strengthen Halifax's road safety strategy by setting a clear target, prioritising high-risk locations, and acting before tragedies occur.
The HRM Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) advises the Transportation Standing Committee TSC) on all matters relating to active transportation in the municipality. The Committee meets monthly, and we presented our near miss reporting form at the August 2026 meeting (you can watch that presentation here, starting at around 11:24).
We also supported a Motion to advance HRM's commitment to Vision Zero by adopting a Goal to achieve zero road fatalities by 2035, and initiating a detailed Vision Zero action plan to get us there, along with urgent interim measures.
We requested to present at the October 22, 2026 meeting to support this Motion, but were told that the agenda was full. Therfore, we have circulated a letter to the Committee members with our preliminary feedback on the recently released 2026 Road Safety Annual Report and wording in the Motion.
Why are we doing this? As we note in our cover letter (link at the end of this article), the HRM has already recognised Vision Zero as the guiding principle of its current Road Safety Strategy. That establishes a “Vision” of zero fatalities and serious injuries for all road users by 2038. However, its operational Goal is to “maintain a downward trend in fatal and serious injury collisions per 100,000 residents.”
There is an important distinction between adopting Vision Zero as a “Vision” and making it a measurable commitment that drives municipal decisions, investment and action. Again, we have written about that distinction previously. Vision Zero requires political commitment to achieve a goal of zero fatal crashes. Our progress to date has not been strong, and levels of serious and fatal crashes are high compared to other municipalities in Canada, with some making good progress on Vision Zero (Toronto and Hamilton for example).
The proposed Motion and direction is an opportunity to make Vision Zero an achievable goal. It would translate HRM's road safety investments into a more ambitious and accountable program, with a defined target of zero fatal and serious injury crashes by 2035, and practical actions to achieve it.
The wording of the Motion reads:
That the Active Transportation Advisory Committee recommend member(s) of the Transportation Standing Committee advance HRM's commitment to Vision Zero by proposing a Motion and/or direct staff as appropriate to:
1. Adopt a goal of zero fatal and serious injury road crashes by 2035;
2. Develop a comprehensive Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan, informed by public and interest-holder consultation and best practices from other jurisdictions, with measurable targets, timelines, and annual reporting;
3. Use collision data to identify and prioritise high-risk roads and intersections for safety improvements and near-term interventions, including:
(a) Speed reductions along high-injury roads using new powers under the Traffic Safety Act;
(b) Rapid deployment of low-cost tactical safety measures at intersections and road space reallocation to improve safety for vulnerable road users;
(c) Create protected signal phases and pedestrian scrambles to reduce conflicts between vehicles and vulnerable road users; and
(d) Restrict right turns on red everywhere to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.
4. Develop and implement a strategy to systematically collect and analyse near-miss data to identify and address high-risk locations before serious injuries and fatalities occur.
5. Establish a Vision Zero Steering Committee with representation from all road user groups, specifically including persons with disabilities and other vulnerable road users, to support the development, implementation and ongoing monitoring of HRM’s Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan.
You can also read our supporting submission through the link below.
Our coalition is informed by our experiences with road safety failures and we strive to inform out elected officials of the extensive evidence of Vision Zero and the Safe System approach. Please sign up to support our advocacy and strengthen the voices of all road users.
