Half of Toronto’s pedestrian fatalities are 65 or older: police
Posted October 9, 2013 7:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto police said they are seeing a disturbing trend of senior pedestrian fatalities on city streets — one that police fear is only going to get worse.
According to police statistics provided to 680News, 15 of the 29 pedestrians who have died in traffic-related crashes this year are 65 or older.
Police said they expect this trend to continue because baby boomers are just reaching retirement years or late working years. Moreover, police said twenty per cent of the population will be elderly by 2031.
Police said speed is not always as much a factor as frailty is when it comes to causing death. One of the possible reasons is that seniors take longer to cross the street, and a lot of times can’t make it across before the lights change.
Toronto police are expected to provide a more detailed news release in a couple of weeks.
The latest pedestrian fatality — the 29th of the year — occurred Tuesday evening. A man in his 80s died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the street in Scarborough.
Overall, 47 people have died in traffic-related crashes in Toronto this year.
