City program to focus on road safety

By Lethbridge Herald on May 15, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

The City of Lethbridge transportation department is undertaking a comprehensive road safety project with a focus on addressing the leading causes of collisions and fatalities. 

Ahmed Ali, traffic engineer and transportation planner, says the goal is to decrease vehicle-related fatalities, injuries and collisions in Lethbridge with a targeted communications and outreach approach. 

“The project’s scope includes understanding and shifting the local culture around road safety and risky behaviors, developing year-long materials and campaigns to increase awareness about road safety, and complete school travel plans at all elementary schools in Lethbridge,” says Ali. 

Unsafe driving occurs for many reasons, he says. Lack of awareness, bad habits, social pressures or simple convenience can influence poor decisions people make behind the wheel. 

“With the input and participation from local schools, community organizations and experts, this project takes a more wholistic approach to driving change in Lethbridge.”  

Heather Gowland, communications strategist with City of Lethbridge transportation, says the community will see City and consulting staff making site observations around school perimeters, at bus and parent drop-off zones, and nearby crosswalks.

“Individual schools can provide direct input into this process,” says Gowland. “But other community members can also report road safety issues around a school by visiting the project page at getinvolvedlethbridge.ca/roadsafety.”

A randomized telephone survey that will take about 20 minutes will be conducted starting today, targeting residents aged 18 and older. 

“If we call, we will be asking questions about attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours around road safety, traffic safety and we ask that community members answer the phone,” says Gowland. 

The outcomes of the project are community based, so they’re looking to help shift the culture of road safety in Lethbridge. The project involves a variety of organizations, including the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, the Lethbridge School Division, Alberta Motor Association, Lethbridge Police Service and Alberta Health Services. 

Meghan Calder, principal at Our Lady of the Assumption School, says the school is surrounded by major roadways, and this project is helping them work with the City and parents to create a plan that encourages safe walking, bike and bus travel in the area. 

“Looking at major roadways, how can we ensure that we have safe crossing sites, how can we make sure that our students and our families are talking about road safety and those types of things?”

Allison Purcell, an AMA school safety patrol co-ordinator and a Lethbridge School District trustee, says AMA looks at initiatives within the community and how they can improve childhood safety. 

“AMA school patrollers have been on the crosswalks for over 85 years, so that is certainly one of our key initiatives,” says Purcell. “But we also focus on…how we can partner with the community.”

Creating school travel plans is a great opportunity for them to work together with the city, the schools and community partners, she adds. 

“On top of school safety patrols, we can look at alternative options like piloting walking school buses, we can look at adult crossing educators, and there are other great opportunities.”

Amanda Hepp, public and population health promotion with Alberta Health Services, says active school travel supports children’s physical and mental health. 

“Walking or biking to school helps children meet the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to rigorous daily activity, something that currently only 39 per cent of children in Canada age five to 17 achieve,” she points out. 

For more information on this project residents can call or chat online with 311.