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Where can road safety take you?

Study and Work in the Area of Road Safety

Road safety touches many issues. This means that there are many paths to a road safety career. Mavis Johnson, President of the Canadian Traffic Institute, identifies five broad road safety categories, each with a wide range of career options for people with different educational backgrounds.

VEHICLE ROAD ROAD USERS RESEARCH OTHER
- Vehicle safety specialists
- Vehicle equipment specialists 		- Engineers
- Planners
- Traffic technologists
- Bicycle/ Pedestrians 		- PHN
- Medical staff
- Injury Prevention
- Health Promotion
- Social marketing
- Auto Insurance LP coordinators
- Behavioral psychologists
- Driver educators
- Police Officers 		- Graduate students
- Engineering
- Criminology
- Health Sciences 		- Communications
- Advocates
- Victim services

Source: Johnson, M. "Careers in Road Safety" Presented at the Canadian Road Safety Youth Conference, Montreal, June 7, 2007.

Opportunities for study

Training

The Canadian Traffic Institute offers training on topics such as safety evaluation techniques, comprehensive road safety planning, and integrated school safety programs. Courses vary in length, from half day to multiple days.

College

Mohawk College offers Transportation Engineering Technology, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Cooperative Education Program.

University

The University of New Brunswick Transportation Group does research within the Department of Civil Engineering for post-graduate studies in transportation. It is a multi-disciplinary group with faculty from the engineering and economic departments, Emeritus Honorees, researchers, research assistants and graduate students.

The University of Manitoba Transportation Institute supports the development of transportation professionalism in the business community. Since 1997, the TI has offered a Certificate in Logistics program (C.log) that is coordinated with the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT).

Job opportunities

Government of Canada

The AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence is working to position Canada as a leader in automotive-related research and development. In addition to more than 265 top researchers at 42 Canadian universities, approximately 120 industry, government and institutional partners support AUTO21.

The Traffic Injury Research Foundation is a national, independent road safety institute.

SMARTRISK is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives.

Volunteer opportunities

Many road safety success stories, such as lower rates of impaired driving, have started with grassroots organizations. These non-governmental organizations often rely on volunteers to raise public awareness, do research and serve as road safety advocates. Learn more about volunteer opportunities by clicking on the links below.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada

Safe Kids Canada

P.A.R.T.Y. program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth)

Date modified:
2010-06-21