Now more needs to be done to make Toronto’s roads safer for pedestrians, a safe streets advocate says, after three people were hit by drivers while walking in the city Wednesday morning.
Dylan Reid, co-founder of Grassroots Walk Toronto, said lowering the speed limit, installing more crosswalks, adding more photo radar cameras and even banning right turns at red lights are important steps that can help save of the lives of vulnerable road users.
Many of these road safety measures are outlined in Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, which prioritizes the safety of Toronto’s most vulnerable road users through a set of comprehensive, proactive, targeted and data-driven initiatives. Launched in July 2016, this plan focuses on reducing traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on city streets.
“The city’s Vision Zero plan must be accelerated. It’s too slow to move forward,” Reid said, adding that while fatalities involving vulnerable road users usually get the most attention, accidents in which people are injured are just as significant.
“Being struck by a moving vehicle can change a person’s life forever. It is a life-changing event, a traumatic experience both physically and mentally.”
All of Wednesday’s pedestrian collisions occurred in less than three hours.
The first crash happened just before 7:30 a.m. near Elm Street and University Avenue. Police said the pedestrian was seriously injured and transported to hospital by paramedics.
The second was just 30 minutes later at the intersection of Dufferin Street and St. Clair Avenue West. Paramedics took the victim to a trauma center with serious injuries.
Shortly before 10 a.m., Toronto police tweeted about a third pedestrian struck by a driver near Steeles Avenue West and Martin Grove Road. No details on the victim’s injuries have been released.
So far, the police have charged one of the drivers – const. Sean Shapiro of Traffic Services told CP24.com.
He said improving road safety was a shared responsibility.
“(Today’s) collisions could have been prevented through caution and better decision-making,” said Shapiro, who hosts the popular #AskATTrafficCop live program.
“In two cases, pedestrians crossed in the middle of the block. … Saving a few seconds is not worth a life.”
Shapiro said police want all road users to arrive at their destination alive and in one piece, especially pedestrians and bicyclists, who are most vulnerable.
“It’s not about who’s fault it’s about making sure you get home safe,” he said.
“If we all take a few minutes to plan ahead and be very cautious, maybe we can avoid tragedy.”
Reid stressed that three vulnerable road users hit by vehicles in such a short space of time showed that “our streets are dangerous for pedestrians”.
“When you have three hit pedestrians in the morning, it’s a reminder that these collisions happen all the time,” he said.
So far this year, Toronto police have investigated dozens of non-fatal injury collisions, as well as 31 fatal collisions.
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