How does Carpooling Ensure Safer Roads for Canadians?

Post - Pandemic Traffic Trends

The landscape of commuting in Canada, but in particular Toronto, underwent significant shifts between 2016 and 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic obviously had a big part to play in this, especially when considering the rise of remote work and where people lived their daily lives. When the amount of people working from home more than tripled in this period, regular commuting patterns were also affected (Government of Canada, 2023). 

However counterintuitive it may seem, despite the decrease in regular commuters, the number of people driving cars has actually increased compared to pre-pandemic levels. This trend highlights a growing preference for personal vehicles over public transportation or carpooling, especially for those commuting within Toronto. Understandably so, with health risks from contamination by strangers probably influencing people’s decisions. 

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Taking a perhaps morbid closer look at the data available to us regarding deaths in 2022, the risks associated with vehicle accidents far supersedes the risks of death by infectious disease. In 2022, there were 6,122 deaths from infectious diseases (Infectious Disease Trends in Ontario, 2024). That same year, there were 25,165 total fatal and personal injury collisions (Ministry of Transportation, 2021). With traffic levels as they are, you are more likely to die in a car than from a disease you get on the metro. Though these statistics may seem contradictory, carpooling has one goal in mind: lessen the amount of vehicles on the road. With less traffic, there are less accidents. With less traffic, you are safer on the roads.

Among the 1.5 million workers in Toronto, roughly three in four commute by passenger vehicle (Government of Canada, 2023). Of these drivers, a staggering 85% are alone in their cars, indicating a strong inclination towards solo travel. This car-heavy trend is even more pronounced for those traveling from outside nearby communities into Toronto. The increase in solo car commuting has significant safety implications. According to recent statistics, 59% of fatal and personal injury collisions involve the driver, the highest percentage among types of people involved in these collisions. This underscores the need for solutions that can reduce the number of vehicles on the road and promote safer commuting practices.

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A Viable Solution?

One such effective response to the issue of overly congested roadways in Canada is the implementation and promotion of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. HOV lanes, also known as carpool lanes, are reserved for vehicles with multiple occupants. They are designed to encourage carpooling, reduce traffic congestion, and improve overall road safety. In Toronto, HOV lanes are strategically placed on major highways and arterials.

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Typically, HOV lanes are either dedicated, 24-hour facilities or reserved for HOVs and transit buses during peak travel times in certain areas. Some lanes are short segments (less than 1 kilometer) designed to bypass congested spots or traffic bottlenecks, such as bridges and tunnels. Others are much longer, extending for many kilometers along controlled access highways in densely populated urban and suburban areas. The required number of occupants for HOV lane use varies by location and local conditions, with 2+ HOV lanes being the most common, although some lanes may require 3+ or 4+ occupants (Transports Canada, 2007).

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For example, portions of Highway 401, one of North America's busiest highway corridors, have HOV lanes. Before their implementation, over 85% of vehicles on this highway were single-occupant vehicles. HOV lanes also exist on Highways 400, 404, 410, and 427, facilitating more efficient travel and promoting carpooling. Improper use of these lanes can result in a fine of $110, or three demerit points (Isure.Ca, n.d.). 

Interestingly, HOV lanes also accommodate green vehicles. If you drive a hybrid or have a green license plate, you can use these lanes anytime, even when driving alone. This policy helps reduce emissions by promoting environmentally friendly vehicles while ensuring a faster commute for those who carpool (Isure.Ca, n.d.).

HOV lanes offer numerous advantages beyond just reducing traffic. By discouraging the reliance on single-occupant vehicles, they help improve public transit speeds and service reliability along primary transit corridors. This supports more sustainable urban development and land use. Fewer vehicles on the road mean improved air quality, reduced energy demands, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. HOV lanes also link key Activity Centres and Corridors, as defined by municipal development plans, fostering greater connectivity and economic activity in urban areas.

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In the US, where traffic rules are similar, they have been proven to reduce the average commute from 12 - 22 minutes (SafeRoadsUSA, 2022). Despite the overall proof that HOV lanes are efficient, there are still some who contest their universality of efficiency. HOV lanes are meant to reduce congestion, but in the case where all the users (multi-occupied vehicles) are from a similar demographic, such as families all driving their kids to school, HOV lanes become just as congested as regular highways (Veldhuis & Esmail, n.d.). This source refers to the specificities of usage of HOV lanes in Calgary. What remains clear, though, is that HOV lanes reduce the overall amount of cars on the road, thus making them generally safer, and reducing emissions. 

The shift in Toronto's commuting patterns calls for innovative solutions to ensure safety, efficiency, and sustainability. HOV lanes represent a promising strategy as we continue to navigate the post-pandemic world, shaping a more sustainable and connected urban environment. However, this is just one small step of how we can ensure carbon emission reduction. The more people choose safety for their daily commute, the quicker we can move forward in reducing our carbon footprint, and the bigger the steps we can make.

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Bibliography

Government of Canada, S. C. (2023, January 10). GTA: Getting there by automobile. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/2697-gta-getting-there-automobile

Infectious Disease Trends in Ontario. (n.d.). Public Health Ontario. Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-Analysis/Infectious-Disease/Reportable-Disease-Trends-Annually

Ministry of Transportation. (2021). Preliminary 2022 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report Selected Statistics.

Transports Canada. (2007). High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes in Canada. Urban Transportation Showcase Program, 54.

‍What are HOV lanes in Ontario? | isure.ca. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2, 2024, from https://isure.ca/inews/hov-lanes-in-ontario/

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