The LEA
DRS
Program
Results-Based Traffic Safety for Community Teams
PHASE TWO PILOT of The LEADRS Program
HOW THE LEA
DRS PROGRAM BEGAN
AND WHERE IT'S GOING
Work on the LEA
DRS Program officially began in
Spring 2002 as the result of a drunk driver aggressively tailgating Doug Taylor earlier that year.
At that time, Doug had worked at or for manufacturing plants for more than forty years. Some of those facilities had operated results-based workplace safety programs for the previous twenty years and had thereby reduced the annual rate and severity of injury incidents to as little as ten percent of earlier years.
It seemed odd that being at work could be so much safer than before whereas travelling on public roads continued to be a very hazardous activity.
Several earlier traffic incidents influenced Doug’s interest in traffic safety. One occurred prior to his sixth birthday when two of his closest relatives died within hours of each other as a result of related traffic collisions. Both incidents were the result of avoidable and unintentional errors made by drivers. In both cases, negligible public learning occurred with the result that similar tragedies continue to occur.
Without a doubt, people make avoidable and unintentional errors at work. Some of those mistakes have very serious consequences.
But we learn from them and make workplace changes as required so that the likelihood of a repeat is very low. In many cases, the learnings are shared with other members of the industry - that is one of the major adjustments in workplace practices that has made substantial improvements in industrial safety practical to achieve and maintain.
There is no apparent reason why many of the successful features of results-based workplace safety cannot be part of public traffic safety initiatives.
With respect to traffic safety, we envision the
LEADRS Program being instrumental in
- Reducing the rate and severity of traffic casualties in Alberta by two-thirds. This means decreasing annual fatalities by 270 persons and annual injuries by 15,000.
- Reducing the rate and severity of traffic
casualties elsewhere in Canada by one-half. This means
decreasing annual fatalities by 1,500 persons and annual
injuries by 105,000.
- Reducing the rate and severity of traffic
casualties outside Canada by one-half. This means
decreasing annual fatalities by 600,000 and annual injuries by
25 million.
- Achieving the above improvements without increasing average travel time.
Significant cost savings will result as these improvements become established. The average annual benefit for Albertans will exceed $500. The annual global benefit is expected to be more than $250 billion.
There is, as well, no apparent reason why many of the successful features of results-based workplace safety cannot be broadly applied to public safety.
Safer
Driving Awards
The LEADRS Program
has been developed by Safer Vehicle Use Limited, an Alberta
corporation. Safer Vehicle Use Limited is 100% owned by Doug
Taylor, a registered professional engineer who
resides in Red Deer.
In May 2005, Doug changed his employment with an Edmonton engineering contractor from being a salaried employee to a contract employee. His employment earnings since that date have been assigned to Safer Vehicle Use Limited.
There are two other sources of revenue. These are interest paid on the Corporation’s bank account balance and sales of Program Kits. Total revenue to date from Kit sales is less than $500.
The assets of Safer Vehicle Use Limited consist of the Program, the trademark Program name, the unique design features of the hang tag, internet websites, office equipment and supplies with a total value not exceeding $5,000 Canadian, and the balance in the Corporation’s bank account.
Safer Vehicle Use Limited has reimbursed Doug at standard rates for expenses. Doug has not received any form of financial compensation from Safer Vehicle Use Limited.
Safer Vehicle Use Limited has no paid employees. Two persons, one of whom is Doug Taylor, volunteer their services to the Corporation.