Sharing the Road: A national awareness campaign focused on humour and respect

Press releases
Published on July 8, 2021

With the summer travel season in full swing and bicycle traffic on the rise, CAA-Quebec is partnering with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) to encourage cyclists and motorists to share the road safely.

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CAA is offering a friendly and funny reminder that road safety is everyone’s business! Cooperation between motorists and cyclists is crucial. Most motorists have ridden bicycles before, and most adult cyclists also drive. Tensions may arise between road users sometimes, but everyone can agree that drivers and cyclists just need to learn how to safely share the road.

Tips for sharing the road safely

According to the latest SAAQ (Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec) road safety record, 2020 was a bleak year for Quebec cyclists. Fourteen deaths were recorded, a 75% increase over 2019. Collisions with a motor vehicle accounted for nearly three-quarters (73%) of fatal bicycle accidents nationwide.

“Our goal with this campaign is to improve road safety by building trust between all road users,” said Ian Jack, CAA vice president of public affairs. “Cyclists and motorists need to share the road in a harmonious and respectful way.”

Experts recommend that everyone follow three basic road-sharing principles: courtesy, civility, and cooperation. Here are some other good tips whether you’re riding on two or four wheels:

Five safe cycling tips: 

  1. Stay alert for vehicles and watch out for other vulnerable road users such as pedestrians. 
  2. Be visible on the road (wear bright or reflective clothing) and have all legally required equipment (brakes, reflectors, two lights for night riding). 
  3. Make eye contact with other road users as often as possible to determine their intentions and communicate your own intentions with the appropriate signals. 
  4. Use bike paths and lanes. If you can’t, ride with traffic on the right side of the road. 
  5. With other cyclists, ride in single file in groups of no more than 15. 

Five safe driving tips: 

  1. Stay alert for cyclists and watch out for vulnerable road users. 
  2. Accept that the road belongs to all users and that cyclists are not required to ride in bike lanes only. 
  3. Be cautious and respectful—take care not to splash or door cyclists and avoid honking your horn as a means of communication. 
  4. When passing a cyclist, slow down and keep the distance required by the Highway Safety Code (1 m in zones of 50 km/h or less and 1.5 m in zones of more than 50 km/h). 
  5. When turning, check your mirrors and blind spots, obey the right of way, and make sure there are no cyclists or pedestrians in or approaching the intersection.  . 

Whether you’re a motorist, a cyclist, or both, remember that all road users are responsible for their own safety, but also for the safety of others.

The awareness campaign to encourage cyclists and motorists to share the road was developed by Vancouver-based advertising agency One Twenty Three West and is available on the CAA website and social media.

About CAA-Quebec

CAA-Quebec is a not-for-profit organization that assists each of its members by providing benefits, products and services for mobility, travel, insurance and home. CAA is the  most trusted brand in Canada according to the 2021 edition of the annual Gustavson Brand Trust Index published by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.

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