Weekend time change brings about pedestrian safety initiative
Posted November 6, 2017 5:11 am.
Last Updated November 6, 2017 1:03 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
This past weekend’s time change comes with a Toronto Police pedestrian safety initiative.
The week-long Step Up and Be Safe campaign starts Monday with police officers paying particular attention to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians committing offences near crosswalks, intersections and school zones.
Pedestrians are also being encouraged to avoid using distracting electronic devices when approaching intersections.
Police say the number of pedestrian-related traffic injuries typically increases during the month of November, due in part to the time change.
A total of 28 pedestrians have lost their lives so far this year, which represents over 57 per cent of the total of all traffic fatalities in Toronto.
Last Friday, eight pedestrians were struck by vehicles across the city – five of them within one hour.
Const. Clint Stibbe said all collisions, including ones involving pedestrians, are preventable.
“We have to pay attention to what’s happening around us. Put down those devices. Make sure you are focusing on the task at hand which is either operating the car or even crossing the street,” he said.
Officials consider the day after the time change – whether it is fall back or spring forward – as one of the most dangerous days on the streets for pedestrians.
