Ontario. Highway Safety Branch

• Highway Safety Branch

• Ontario. Safety Office

• Ontario. Transportation Safety Office

The Highway Safety Branch was formed within the Ontario Department of Transport in 1957 in order to centralize all functions relating to transportation safety in Ontario. From 1957 to 1962, the Highway Safety Branch reported directly to the Deputy Minister. In 1962, however, the branch began reporting to the newly created Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles, where it stayed until 1969. Between 1969 and 1971, the branch was placed under the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

In 1971, the branch became part of the new Ontario Department (and later Ministry) of Transportation and Communications, and was renamed the Transportation Safety Office. In 1973, it became simply the Safety Office and was placed under the Assistant Deputy Minister of Drivers and Vehicles.

The functions of the Highway Safety Branch were assumed by the newly created Public and Safety Information Branch in 1974.

The Highway Safety Branch conducted promotional and educational activities in the area of highway safety. The branch produced informational pamphlets for distribution throughout Ontario, organized exhibits, conducted workshops, produced safety games for school distribution, established local Safety Councils to raise public awareness, and produced safety spots on a variety of news media.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Department of Transport Annual Reports, 1957-1971; Ministry of Transportation and Communications, 1971-1974; Ontario Government Telephone Directories, 1971-1974.

Not found in Canadiana Authorities, 1996-12-24.

Archivist(s):
Lisa Singer, Mark Epp