Paving the Way to Safer Roads: Annual Campaign Gets Underway this Week to Determine Ontario's Worst Roads

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 29, 2013) - Once again looking to put power into the hands of road users, the ever-popular Ontario's Worst Roads campaign gets underway this week in an effort to determine the roads, highways and bridges across the province that are in dire need of repair.

Now in its tenth year, CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) is proud to again be part of the campaign, which launches May 1, 2013 with the theme "Help Pave the Way to Safer Roads."

"This campaign provides an opportunity for the public to inform their elected officials that they are concerned about the substandard infrastructure that plagues their respective communities," said Korey Kennedy, Manager of Public & Government Affairs for CAANEO. "We are encouraging motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike to cast their ballot and have a say in order to help raise awareness regarding Ontario's deteriorating roads."

Coming out of a winter season that resulted in the development of an unprecedented amount of potholes, there is no shortage of roadways across the province that are eligible to make this year's Worst Roads Top 10 list. But the Worst Roads campaign is not just about potholes; road users who have experienced incidents related to pedestrian and cycling safety, congestion, improper signage, and poor visibility are also encouraged to provide feedback.

The campaign is again seeking to have senior levels of government provide Ontario municipalities with long-term sustainable funding to repair damaged and aging infrastructure, which ultimately has a negative impact on the environment, road safety and costs to road users. While the Ontario government has charged a gas tax since 1925, a dedicated fund to assist with repairing municipal roadways and bridges is still lacking.

Road users can have their say by casting a ballot online at www.worstroads.ca, where individuals can view in real-time the roads that are receiving the most votes across the province. The website will be live following the launch of the campaign on May 1, 2013.

Over the course of the next four weeks, the campaign - which is sponsored by CAA North & East Ontario, CAA South Central Ontario, CAA Niagara and the Ontario Road Builders' Association - will travel to communities throughout the province to reiterate the importance of making concerns about decaying infrastructure known. Voting closes May 31, 2013.

CAA North & East Ontario is a non-profit membership organization, providing travel, emergency road services, insurance and advocacy for its Members. Visit www.caaneo.ca.