With daylight savings time set to come to an end this weekend, and the darker, wetter weather upon us, the City of Vancouver, ICBC and 麻豆传媒映画police are reminding the public to practise road safety whether driving, walking or riding.
鈥淭he City of 麻豆传媒映画has a goal to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries from happening on our streets,鈥� Jerry Dobrovolny, general manager of engineering services, said in a press release. 鈥淓ven when we build for safety, we need to work together as a community to raise awareness about the rules of the road and how we can all make sure we are travelling safely.
鈥淲e depend on everyone to take accountability for their daily behaviour, and rely on our partners from ICBC and VPD to help educate and enforce good behaviour.鈥�
Particularly, people walking are the most vulnerable and among those walking, seniors are the most likely to suffer a serious injury, or fatality, as a result of a crash with a vehicle or bicycle.
鈥淣early half of all crashes with pedestrians happen between October and January, as visibility and conditions worsen,鈥� said Aileen Shibata, ICBC road safety program coordinator. 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e driving or walking, the most important thing you can do is focus on the road. It鈥檚 up to each of us to do our part to help keep pedestrians safe.鈥�
Collisions between people walking or wheeling are more frequent between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and during hours of darkness in winter months. And while pedestrians are involved in less than one per cent of the overall traffic collisions, they account for more than 60 per cent of all traffic fatalities in Vancouver.
鈥淩oad safety is a shared responsibility,鈥� said VPD Const. Anne-Marie Clark. 鈥淭hrough ongoing education and enforcement, we will continue to work with our partners to make our roadways safe for all pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.鈥�
Road Safety Tips
When driving: Slow down at intersections and wait until pedestrians have crossed the road. If possible, make eye contact with people walking. Do not pass cyclists unless you have at least 1.5 metres of space.
When cycling: Take it slow (especially at intersections and roundabouts). Make eye contact with other road users, if possible, and yield to pedestrians. Use front and rear bike lights, and take designated bike routes where possible.
When walking: When crossing the street, make eye contact with drivers and cyclists if possible. Wear bright or reflective clothing to be more visible in the dark. Don鈥檛 jaywalk 鈥� use crosswalks and follow pedestrian signs and traffic signals.
