Road Safety Partners Gear Up for First Provincial Conference

Gaining a higher profile and ways to continue to better protect Nova Scotians will be at the centre of the first road safety conference to be held in Halifax on March 24.

Keeping Road Safety in Focus is a one-day conference hosted by Safety Service Nova Scotia, as part of its annual occupational health and safety conference.

"We're very pleased to be a part of this important conference," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, which is sponsoring the event. "It's essential for road-safety professionals to come together and share knowledge to help bring this important topic to the forefront."

The conference will include, presentations, workshops, a trade show and networking opportunities.

"Road Safety is an issue for everyone, whether you are a pedestrian or a truck driver," said Nancy Chaston, director of Road Safety for Safety Services Nova Scotia. "The conference will provide a great venue for everyone to share and network and will cover a variety of topics including school bus safety, fleet safety, speeding, and driver fitness."

Last year, 71 people were killed on Nova Scotia roads. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability among Nova Scotians younger than 45.

The province has introduced several initiatives to improve road safety, including the Integrated Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit, banning hand-held cellphones, stronger and expanded penalties for street racing, legislation and funding to improve crosswalk safety, and toughening the penalties for people caught driving with a blood-alcohol level of .05.

Anyone interested in registering for the conference can visit www.safetyservicesns.com .