After a one-year hiatus, CAA Niagara’s popular Worst Roads campaign is back, offering Niagara residents the opportunity to highlight road infrastructure and safety issues in their communities. This year the club also wants to remind voters that the campaign goes far beyond potholes and crumbling pavement.

“Worst Roads is known for addressing potholes,” said CAA Niagara’s President and CEO, Peter Van Hezewyk, “but there are other important road safety issues we also want to talk about. Regardless of whether you’re in a vehicle, riding a bike or on foot, road safety impacts everyone. Poorly timed traffic lights, dangerous intersections, the absence of bike lanes or sidewalks in areas that have high cycling and pedestrian traffic – these are all issues that we want to address during the Worst Roads campaign.”

The club believes this year is the perfect time to discuss non-pothole related road infrastructure issues, as the pandemic has precipitated an increase in pedestrian and cycling activity.

“Niagara residents are exploring their communities in different ways because of COVID-19,” Van Hezewyk continues. “While you’re taking a walk or biking with your family, pay attention to things like crosswalks, bike lanes, busy roads and intersections, even railway crossings, and ask yourself, ‘can anything be done to make my neighbourhood safer?’”

This year’s campaign will run until April 18. Votes can be submitted online at caaworstroads.com, however residents are also encouraged to join in the conversation on CAA Niagara’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

“Our ultimate goal is to increase the safety of Niagara’s roadways and enhance the lives of residents,” Van Hezewyk said. “With feedback from the community, and by partnering with local municipalities to address road safety concerns, we can make Niagara a better, safer place to live and work.”

In 2019, more than 1,500 Niagara citizens cast their votes, with McLeod Road in Niagara Falls, Drummond Road in Niagara Falls, St. David’s Road in Thorold, Portage Road in Niagara Falls, and Sider Road in Fort Erie being named Niagara’s top 5 Worst Roads that year.

ABOUT CAA NIAGARA

Founded in 1911 as the St. Catharines Automobile Club with just 16 members, CAA Niagara has grown to more than 139,000 members and five Niagara locations: St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold and Grimsby. A not-for-profit membership organization, CAA Niagara, provides emergency road services, travel, insurance and member rewards, and is known for being road safety advocates.