CAA works to help keep pedestrians, cyclists and drivers safe. | PHOTO: BUKHAROVA/iSTOCK
3 QUESTIONS WITH
Safety First: Advocacy Is Fundamental at CAA South Central Ontario
Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice-president of government and community relations at CAA Club Group, shares insight into the work they do.
By Alexis Nicols
Advocacy has been part of CAA’s DNA since its founding in the early 1900s. Today, that commitment to keeping road-users safer and communities strong is as vital as ever — though it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when Members think of their Membership. CAA Magazine sat down with Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice-president of government and community relations at CAA, to learn about the wide-reaching advocacy work being done on behalf of Members in Ontario.
Campaigns
QUESTION ONE
Can you explain some of the initiatives that CAA has implemented?
Di Felice: There’s a huge list! Getting tow trucks included in Slow Down, Move Over (SDMO) legislation in 2015 was a landmark moment, and increasing awareness and safety around SDMO is an ongoing priority for us. We were part of bringing in the distracted driving legislation many years ago and continue to monitor impaired driving, including cannabis-impaired driving, as those conversations evolve. We worked with government to regulate the towing industry to ensure safety and standards. And when the Ministry of Transportation introduced tow zones on provincial highways restricted to government-approved towing operators, we were successful at ensuring CAA Members could use their membership services in most cases versus having to call a Ministry-approved tow operator. (These zones were created to offer motorists enhanced safety and prevent predatory towing operators from servicing in these areas where quick clearance of the scene is a priority.) We also run our annual Worst Roads campaign, which crowdsources input on the pain points people experience [e.g., condition of roads and safety hazards] as they move through their communities. And many of those roads do get fixed, I’m proud to say.
A key priority has been getting tow trucks included in Slow Down, Move Over legislation. | PHOTO: HEATHER LYNCH
Community Safety
QUESTION TWO
Are these programs created based on Member needs?
Di Felice: Absolutely. We’re always looking at the landscape — we survey our Members and the general public regularly to bring those insights to government, and to flag gaps in legislation or regulation. Sometimes the issues come from us identifying trends early; we were talking about distracted driving back in 2005 and 2006, well before government developed legislation. We’ve also been deeply involved in conversations around electric and autonomous vehicles and the need for speed limits in high-risk zones. And on the community side, we run the CAA School Safety Patrol® program — one of Canada’s largest youth safety programs, putting safety in schools front and centre by empowering older elementary students to take a leadership role in keeping their peers safe.
CAA School Safety Patrol® program trains students to help members of their school community get to and from school safely. | PHOTO: BEN BONSU
Thought Leadership
QUESTION THREE
Why is advocacy an important part of what CAA does?
Di Felice: The research we bring to government — from Member surveys and public insights — has shaped regulations and communications campaigns around issues such as towing safety and distracted driving. On the community side, our Near Miss Data project studied vulnerable road users, including children, pedestrians, seniors, people with mobility devices, cyclists and motorcyclists at busy urban intersections, helping residents and municipalities understand where proactive changes can prevent collisions before they happen. And our emergency roadside assistance network, including our vetted CAA towing operators, continues to be strengthened through our policy work.
Advocating for changes in legislation includes research to gather data to illustrate how we can improve safety for all who use the roads — including cyclists, pedestrians, drivers and others. | PHOTO: MINISERIES/iSTOCK
Advocacy is actually why CAA was founded. It’s not always visible, but it’s foundational to your Membership — we’re listening, we’re acting and we’re working to keep you and your community safer every day. CAA
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A key priority has been getting tow trucks included in Slow Down, Move Over legislation. | PHOTO: HEATHER LYNCH
Campaigns
QUESTION ONE
Can you explain some of the initiatives that CAA has implemented?
Di Felice: There’s a huge list! Getting tow trucks included in Slow Down, Move Over (SDMO) legislation in 2015 was a landmark moment, and increasing awareness and safety around SDMO is an ongoing priority for us. We were part of bringing in the distracted driving legislation many years ago and continue to monitor impaired driving, including cannabis-impaired driving, as those conversations evolve. We worked with government to regulate the towing industry to ensure safety and standards. And when the Ministry of Transportation introduced tow zones on provincial highways restricted to government-approved towing operators, we were successful at ensuring CAA Members could use their membership services in most cases versus having to call a Ministry-approved tow operator. (These zones were created to offer motorists enhanced safety and prevent predatory towing operators from servicing in these areas where quick clearance of the scene is a priority.) We also run our annual Worst Roads campaign, which crowdsources input on the pain points people experience [e.g., condition of roads and safety hazards] as they move through their communities. And many of those roads do get fixed, I’m proud to say.
CAA School Safety Patrol® program trains students to help members of their school community get to and from school safely. | PHOTO: BEN BONSU
Community Safety
QUESTION TWO
Are these programs created based on Member needs?
Di Felice: Absolutely. We’re always looking at the landscape — we survey our Members and the general public regularly to bring those insights to government, and to flag gaps in legislation or regulation.
Sometimes the issues come from us identifying trends early; we were talking about distracted driving back in 2005 and 2006, well before government developed legislation. We’ve also been deeply involved in conversations around electric and autonomous vehicles and the need for speed limits in high-risk zones. And on the community side, we run the CAA School Safety Patrol® program — one of Canada’s largest youth safety programs, putting safety in schools front and centre by empowering older elementary students to take a leadership role in keeping their peers safe.
Advocating for changes in legislation includes research to gather data to illustrate how we can improve safety for all who use the roads — including cyclists, pedestrians, drivers and others. | PHOTO: MINISERIES/iSTOCK
Thought Leadership
QUESTION THREE
Why is advocacy an important part of what CAA does?
Di Felice: The research we bring to government — from Member surveys and public insights — has shaped regulations and communications campaigns around issues such as towing safety and distracted driving. On the community side, our Near Miss Data project studied vulnerable road users, including children, pedestrians, seniors, people with mobility devices, cyclists and motorcyclists at busy urban intersections, helping residents and municipalities understand where proactive changes can prevent collisions before they happen. And our emergency roadside assistance network, including our vetted CAA towing operators, continues to be strengthened through our policy work.