Road Safety Action Plan: Rural Road Safety Reminders

Rural roads make for scenic driving conditions, but they do come with their own unique hazards.

Rural roads see a higher number of fatal collisions than any other area in our city. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 149 collisions on rural roads in Ottawa that resulted in a major injury or fatality. Forty-five were fatalities.

Avoidable causes related to some of these incidents include:

• Speeding

• Failing to stop at intersections

• Impaired driving (drugs or alcohol)

In addition to avoiding the behaviours above, motorists on rural roads should also:

• Scan the sides of the road ahead, looking for animals or movement

• Slow down before entering a curve on rural roads

• Use high beams in low light conditions to look for any reflection from wildlife

• Slow down when conditions are snowy, wet, foggy or icy since your stopping distance may be longer

• Be extra cautious when you see a yellow sign indicating deer are frequently in the area

• Avoid all distractions and keep your eyes on the road

If a deer or other wildlife crosses your path:

• Brake

• Sound your horn

• Do not swerve – this risks a loss of control

Farmers live and work in rural areas so they are on the roads with machinery. Some tips when near farm equipment include:

• Be patient and wait for a safe opportunity to pass.

• Pass with extreme caution - farm equipment can be large and difficult to maneuver.

• Don't tailgate.

• Avoid passing on curves, hills, intersections or no passing zones.

• Don't pass and then slow down or stop - you could cause a collision.

• Be aware of farm equipment turning as it may swing wide.

• Don't pass equipment at intersections.

The City of Ottawa is committed to improve safety on rural roads through engineering, enforcement and education, including:

• Engineering

o Prioritizing locations to add lighting where none exists or to upgrade existing lighting

o Identifying rural stop locations for upgrading to oversized stop signs, stop ahead signs, a flashing LED beacon and/or marker lighting at high-risk collision locations

o Prioritizing shoulders that require maintenance

o Adding safety edges when resurfacing. Safety edges are bevels at the edge of the asphalt on roads without curbs. This allows motorists who partially leave the road to recover without over-correcting or catching a wheel edge.

o Prioritizing locations for upgrade from rural skewed intersection to standard intersection.

• Enforcement

o Conducting an automated speed enforcement pilot study in four rural villages

o Working in conjunction with the Ottawa Police Service to conduct rural speed enforcement.

• Education

o Conducting education and outreach related to the operation of ATVs in rural schools to ensure all road users are aware of hazards and safe operation.

The City of Ottawa continues to make improvements to the safety of our roads with an emphasis on protecting vulnerable users – pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The City’s 2020-2024 Road Safety Action Plan guides these engineering, education and enforcement initiatives.

But even the safest transportation network requires that everyone follows the rules of the road for their mode of transportation.

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