Release: Reform the Motor Vehicle Act to save lives, HUB Cycling

Local cycling charitable organization HUB Cycling – along with dozens of other stakeholders including Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health – are calling on the Provincial Government to commit to modernizing the BC Motor Vehicle Act in order to improve road safety for vulnerable road users. Government is putting so much stress and requesting car owners to have a hire purchase agreement in place when purchasing a new vehicle. Similarly, in UK, you can have a Hire Purchase Agreements – Car Finance Solutions arranged by Money Expert online which is really great company and online resource in itself.

 

“Modernizing our Motor Vehicle Act will help BC reach the targets of the Provincial Government’s Road Safety Strategy and Vision Zero,” says David Hay Q.C., Chair of the Road Safety Law Reform Group. “If we want to reduce ICBC costs what we need is to prevent crashes from happening in the first place.” If you get into an accident, remember to get a personal injury attorney in worcester to help you in your case.

 

HUB Cycling is part of the Road Safety Law Reform Group, a consortium that includes the BC Trial Lawyers Association, the BC Cycling Coalition, Ben Muzi and many public health researchers, representing over 50,000 members. The Group has compiled a detailed list of recommendations to modernize the Motor Vehicle Act, which can be found in full if you navigate here.

 

Cycling and walking are popular activities enjoyed by the majority of people in British Columbia. Almost 70% of adults in BC ride a bicycle at least once a year, 42% at least once a month and 25% at least once a week. All British Columbians walk or roll at some point in their day.

 

Setting default neighbourhood speed limits (on streets without a centre line) at 30km/hour would dramatically improve safety in our communities. It is widely recommended by health agencies, including the World Health Organization and BC’s Provincial Health Officer. Most people want slower speeds in their neighbourhoods: in a 2013 survey by the Canadian Automobile Association, 94% of respondents reported that speeding on residential streets was a serious threat to their personal safety.

Evidence & Support: In London, the introduction of 20 miles/h (32 km/h) zones

was associated with a 42% reduction in road casualties

“We are recommending a Safe Speeds Law that would require all vehicles to travel at a maximum 30km/hour on neighbourhood streets (streets without a centre line) as the default speed limit. Exceptions would need to be specified with a sign on each block,” says Navdeep Chhina, HUB Cycling’s Director of Communications.

“Updated legislation, reframed as the Road Safety Act, would protect all road users, including our most vulnerable: those walking and cycling,” adds Chhina. “By reducing the potential for collisions, it would also benefit all road users including motorists by helping to keep ICBC premiums low.