Our
MissionOur Vision
Our vision is to have the safest roads in the world by the
year 2010 through quality data collection, the dedicated application
of problem solving, partnership building, enforcement and education
strategies, and evaluation of our programs.
Our Challenge
Every year some 1,000 Canadians are killed and nearly 6,500
are seriously injured in jurisdictions policed by the RCMP. Traffic
crashes are the leading cause of death among the youth of this country.
Our challenge is to reduce this carnage by developing effective strategies
with our communities.
Our
Targets
We have set an aggressive target to achieve a 30 per cent decrease
in the number of people fatally or seriously injured on our roadways
by the year 2010. We will achieve this target in each Division by meeting
the following objectives:
- Achieve a 95% minimum seat belt wearing rate and proper use of child restraints
- Reduce the number of roads users fatally or seriously injured on rural roads by 40%
- Reduce the number of people fatally or seriously injured in crashes involving drinking and driving by 40%
- Reduce the number of unbelted occupants killed or seriously injured by 40%
- Reduce the number of drivers who are killed or seriously injured in speed and intersection related crashes by 20%
- Reduce the number of young drivers/riders (16-19 years) killed or seriously injured in crashes by 20%
- Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in crashes involving commercial carriers by 20%
- Reduce the number of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists) killed or seriously injured by 30%
Our Commitment
Leadership and empowermentBuilding an RCMP National Traffic
Service Strategy requires effective leadership and sound management
skills. Our main focus must be the support of our front-line members
in traffic units and detachments. They need greater autonomy at the
point of service delivery, and they must also be held accountable for
their work. At the national level, we can provide direction to enable
an integration of functions. We will work with divisions to ensure the
front line has the necessary resources to work toward the RSV
2010 objectives.
Changing attitudes through improvement of traffic service environment
Attitude is critical to the success of our mission. We need people
with initiative and leadership skills. We must delegate authority to
the appropriate level and those who have it must be answerable for their
performance. We must encourage innovation and flexibility. Traffic members
must take every opportunity to reflect on the service they provide and
understand the purpose of the Traffic Services mission statement.
Partnerships
and client involvement
Our partners and clients have a key role in helping us implement
a quality traffic service program. Their unique perspectives and input
in our problem solving exercises will help us identify local problems
that result in death and serious injury. This information, combined
with our own research data, will help us produce effective intervention
programs. We pledge to share with our partners the mission, vision statements
and targets of the RCMP and to recognize their role in helping us achieve
them.
Achieving an effective organizational sructure
We look to all levels of the RCMP for their support in building a new structure for Traffic Services. Using the principle of intelligence led policing, we must constantly evaluate our performance in achieving the road safety targets that our research has shown us are appropriate. Managers at all levels must ensure they take full ownership of these Traffic Services objectives so they can encourage and recognize quality service in their employees and provide sound feedback and direction when needed.
Traffic Services needs a sound structure supporting front-line personnel which allows them to dedicate themselves fully to saving lives, preventing injuries and ensuring safety on our roadways.
OUR ROAD MAP TO SUCCESS
a message from the
Officer in Charge Traffic Services
In 1998, the Traffic Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police accepted responsibility from the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators to undertake a study of traffic services in Canada. The RCMP's National Contract Policing Branch volunteered to serve as the lead policing agency in the review.
To learn more about existing efficiencies and deficiencies in traffic services, the branch launched the Traffic Services Pilot Project in Southern Alberta. The ultimate goal of the project was to enhance the quality of traffic services in the RCMP. In 2000 we adopted a Public Safety Centred Problem Solving model for use in divisions across the country. The Alberta project proved that the new service delivery model had made a difference. Members were enthusiastic about the new direction, and looked forward to developing strategies with partners to address the major causes of death and injury on our roadways.
A great deal of work remains. We are committed to Road Safety Vision (RSV) 2010 and the targets set to make Canada's roadways the safest in the industrial world. We continue our commitment to the Southern Alberta Pilot Project and to the development of a quality Traffic Services program in all divisions. The key to the future lies in ensuring dedicated traffic units across the RCMP.
We need to continue to implement recommended organizational structures for traffic services at the national and divisional levels. This includes looking forward to the development of competency based job descriptions and updating selection criteria for all traffic positions to ensure we select the right person for the job. Beyond that, major improvements in our data collection and problem solving abilities are required. We continue in that direction with the piloting of the Traffic Services Management Information Tool.
Another
important step in the implementation of internal structures dedicated
to public safety, is the recent inclusion of the National Traffic Reconstructionist
Program under the National Traffic Services umbrella. Through the continued
development of this program we will be able to gain a true understanding
of the contributing factors to fatal and serious injury collisions and
plan our preventive strategies around this information.
Traffic Services now has the basic tools to address our primary mission to improve public safety on our roadways. In addition, because traffic members observe and interact with thousands of people in vehicles each day, we are the first line of defence against terrorism and the movement of illegal commodities on Canada's roadways. With the Pipeline/Convoy/Jetway Program now entrenched within Traffic Services, all traffic personnel must recognize our role in the fight against organized crime and in the detection of threats to national security. Our objective, through focused training, is to increase our members' ability to detect travelling criminals, gather relevant information and direct it to RCMP intelligence systems.
Public opinion polls continue to rank road safety as a high priority with Canadians. This strategic plan provides the road map for success. Through commitment and dedication we will increase awareness and achieve our objective of making Canada's roads the safest in the world.
Our Operating Environment
The carnage — Every year in Canada approximately 3,000 people die and an additional 19,000 are seriously injured in traffic collisions. Over 80 per cent of this carnage takes place in rural Canada with approximately 1,000 of these deaths occurring in RCMP jurisdictions.
Youth — The safety and security of young Canadians is a strategic priority of the RCMP. Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death and injury among our young people.
Comparison with the world — Canada currently ranks ninth in terms of road safety among the 29 countries of the organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OEDC).
Traffic resources — We currently have 1,250 resources dedicated to RCMP Traffic Services in the contract provinces and territories.
Alignment of services — Alignment of services — Since the year 2000, baseline data analysis has led RCMP Traffic Services at the Division level to align with a quality service delivery model. Our emphasis is now on achieving the targeted goals set out in RSV 2010.
Driving behaviours — The proper use of seat belts and child restraints is the most effective method of saving lives. RCMP research shows that seat belt use in rural jurisdictions is as low as 69%, 20 percentage points below the urban usage rate.
Criminal motor vehicle operation — Over 32 per cent of all drivers killed in Canada were criminally impaired at the time of death. Impaired driving remains the greatest criminal cause of death in Canada.
Public perceptions — Our clients and partners across Canada continue to place a high priority on public safety on the roadways and our commitment to improve the way we deal with high risk driving behaviours. In some studies in Western Canada, traffic safety ranked first among public concerns. The Government of Canada Public Safety Portal has placed Traffic Safety in the top six concerns of Canadian citizens.
Health and social costs — Transport Canada estimates health and social costs relating to traffic crashes amount to $8.6 billion per year, based on 1999 crash figures and 1993 financial considerations.
Organized crime and national security — Criminal organizations use Canada's roadways to transport countless illegal commodities. Terrorist organizations are at their most vulnerable when they use the transportation system. Through Pipeline/Convoy/Jetway training we can enhance the investigational and observational techniques of our Traffic members in detecting this criminal activity. Traffic Services is an integral component of the RCMP intelligence-gathering system.
Member safety — Traffic members face many dangers each day as they conduct their duties, making contact with unknown individuals in a relatively uncontrolled environment. They need appropriate and timely training to mitigate these risks.
Response to the RCMP strategic framework — Current priorities are: organized crime, terrorism, youth, international policing and aboriginal communities. The Four Pillars of Excellence are: intelligence, values, bridge building and accountability.
The work of Traffic Services helps reduce danger for youth and the proliferation of organized crime. With regard to the Pillars of Excellence, intelligence gathering is crucial for effective problem solving in our Traffic Services delivery model. Likewise we must remain committed to detecting criminal activity on our roadways, gathering intelligence that is key to targeting criminal organizations. A key strategy is developing strong partnerships (building bridges) with agencies that have a similar mission. We are incorporating greater accountability into the Traffic Program with new systems, including annual reporting by each division on national priorities.
National Safety Campaigns
