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Are issues for Canadian vulnerable road users similar to the US? Pretty much, but there's a statistically significant difference relating to the location of incidents which is often overlooked. Thread looking at key stats in Canadian cities. https://nsadvocate.org/2020/07/28/open-letter-the-dangers-of-halifax-signalized-intersections-for-the-elderly-and-people-with-disabilities/
Toronto:
Over a nine year period from 2000 to 2009, a disturbing 76% of all pedestrian incidents occurred at signalized intersections.
https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84870459464&origin=inward&txGid=30f9cce54cfc3bc556410ee4b38eaa9c
Over a nine year period from 2000 to 2009, a disturbing 76% of all pedestrian incidents occurred at signalized intersections.
https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84870459464&origin=inward&txGid=30f9cce54cfc3bc556410ee4b38eaa9c
This data shows signalized intersection crosswalks were not safe for pedestrians to use. So are they safe now?
2019 update shows 42% of Killed and Serious pedestrian Incidents in Toronto were pedestrians crossing legally at signalized intersections.
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-134993.pdf
2019 update shows 42% of Killed and Serious pedestrian Incidents in Toronto were pedestrians crossing legally at signalized intersections.
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-134993.pdf
Ottawa has the same issue.
In 2018, signalized intersections accounted for:
- 52% of all pedestrian incidents
- 189 incidents, 200 pedestrians hit (in some incidents, 2 or 3 pedestrians were hit)
https://open.ottawa.ca/datasets/2018-tabular-transportation-collision-data?geometry=-77.656%2C45.217%2C-73.951%2C45.890
In 2018, signalized intersections accounted for:
- 52% of all pedestrian incidents
- 189 incidents, 200 pedestrians hit (in some incidents, 2 or 3 pedestrians were hit)
https://open.ottawa.ca/datasets/2018-tabular-transportation-collision-data?geometry=-77.656%2C45.217%2C-73.951%2C45.890
Halifax - about 40% of pedestrian incidents are at signalized intersections, most commonly left on green. Right on green was the movement causing a fatality earlier this year at Portland Street
https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/standing-committees/180628tsc111.pdf
https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/standing-committees/180628tsc111.pdf
Vancouver has also known about this issue since at least 2012, when a report on pedestrian safety found 61% of all pedestrian incidents were at signalized intersections.
https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/pedestrian-safety-study-2012-final-report.pdf
https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/pedestrian-safety-study-2012-final-report.pdf
So they accounted for 61% of ALL pedestrian incidents, even though signalized intersections make up just 3.6% of intersections in Vancouver.
This intersection alone accounted for 32 pedestrian incidents between 2015 and 2019.
https://public.tableau.com/profile/icbc#!/vizhome/BC-CrashesinvolvingPedestrians-/PedestriansDashboard
This intersection alone accounted for 32 pedestrian incidents between 2015 and 2019.
https://public.tableau.com/profile/icbc#!/vizhome/BC-CrashesinvolvingPedestrians-/PedestriansDashboard
All of these highest pedestrian incident locations in Vancouver are signalized intersections. Which means despite knowing the significant danger, signals likely have not been adjusted to prevent drivers from turning while the walk sign is on.
All of this Canadian city data demonstrates concurrent signal configurations (traffic turns on green and red lights while the walk sign is on) present by far the most danger to pedestrians in Canada. Pedestrians and moving traffic do not mix. It can be seen everywhere.
Most disturbingly traffic authorities have known about this danger for years, yet signals have not been adjusted.
Therefore signalized intersections remain (by far) the most common location of incidents, often fatalities. https://seanmarshall.ca/2020/06/23/deadly-by-design-keele-calvington/
Therefore signalized intersections remain (by far) the most common location of incidents, often fatalities. https://seanmarshall.ca/2020/06/23/deadly-by-design-keele-calvington/
Finally - what can be done?
Locally, traffic authorities aren't introducing adequate protection for pedestrians at SI's. I've written to the feds to request urgent intervention, given the hugely significant safety issue. But they don't have jurisdiction to directly intervene.
Locally, traffic authorities aren't introducing adequate protection for pedestrians at SI's. I've written to the feds to request urgent intervention, given the hugely significant safety issue. But they don't have jurisdiction to directly intervene.
If you are elderly or disabled and need to cross the road safely at signalized intersections, provincial human rights commissions/tribunals MIGHT be able to hear a complaint, given the above data. Advice should be sought from a HR legal specialist.
https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/eng/content/provincial-territorial-human-rights-agencies
https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/eng/content/provincial-territorial-human-rights-agencies
@martynschmoll @VisionZeroCA @FFSafeStreets @dylan_reid @BrentToderian @jen_keesmaat @g_meslin
@RobinMazumder
- the above thread might be of interest.
@RobinMazumder
- the above thread might be of interest.
