(Photo credit: Ressequie/SXC)
More and more cities across Canada are installing crosswalks that show how many more seconds a person has left to cross the street. You would think this might increase safety since this way pedestrians aren’t bolting across the road when the crosswalk light shows a flashing hand, but a recent Toronto study disputes this thinking.
Crosswalk signals at about 2,000 intersections in Toronto led to a 26 per cent increase in the rate of collisions, according to an analysis by the Hospital of Sick Children looking at previously released data. And it gets worse. Of these incidents, there were 50 per cent more fatal pedestrian-automobile collisions.
It’s likely that these countdown signals rush pedestrians to cross the road and rush drivers to get out of the intersection, say the researchers. Pedestrians are recommended not to cross the road when they see a countdown, but this doesn’t always happen.
Dr. Andrew Howard, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at SickKids, suggests that having crosswalk times end earlier could decrease the number of accidents. The report analyzed data between January of 2000 and December of 2009 and it studied 1,965 intersections and 9,262 incidents of accidents between pedestrians and cars.
This disputes a previously completed study which concluded that pedestrians were safer with timed crosswalks, but they led to more vehicle collisions. The signals drove down collisions between a vehicle and a pedestrian by five less each month, but there were 22 more vehicle collisions in intersections with timed crossings compared to intersections without them.
One of the researchers told CTV that he thinks this is the case because drivers speed up to get out of the intersection, but they don’t time it right, which results in a collision. The two researchers analyzed data between 2004 and 2008 at Toronto’s intersections.
Timed signals were brought to Toronto in November of 2006 and since then have expanded to many intersections in the city. Cities across North American have installed them on roads as well.
When pedestrians cross the road using a crosswalk, it’s important to look both ways and ensure that a vehicle is coming to a stop. While pedestrians have the right of the way, it’s important to make eye contact with the driver to make sure they have seen you. Also, be aware of your surroundings and don’t wear headphones and earmuffs when crossing since they may affect your hearing and vision.
For drivers, it’s important that you’re aware at all times. With the recent change in daylight savings time, there’s a greater chance of pedestrian-vehicle accidents. Don’t rush when you’re driving and stay alert when driving through intersections.
Motor vehicle accidents happen and accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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