Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118161
HotTopics Dead Man Walking Crossing the road is a two-way street by Ian MacNeill THINK PEDESTRIANS have the right of Education-wise, the campaign encourages way in traffic? Think again. pedestrians to use common sense and street Pedestrians have rights. But they also smarts, and to respect their inherent vulnerahave legal responsibilities that require not bility by walking defensively. Refrain from jayputting lives at risk. For examwalking, for example – crossing ple, pedestrians can't suda street less than a block from a denly walk out onto a road crosswalk. And even when – even in a marked crosswalk crossing a street legally, avoid – and expect traffic to sudstepping into a crosswalk suddenly stop. If they do, and denly. Don't rely on walk sigthey're struck, they could find nals or the "magical' presence that the law and the courts are of two white lines painted on a less than sympathetic when it road, either. Look first and, if comes to establishing blame possible, establish eye contact and compensation. before setting out. Keep lookTraffic safety experts agree ing, too: left and right and for there are three main areas of motorists rushing around corconcern. First, many British ners. Note also that roads with Columbians are unaware of multiple lanes are particularly the basic laws governing dangerous. Just because drivers pedestrian safety. Second, in three lanes have stopped pedestrians are often disdoesn't mean the one in the tracted and have a false sense fourth lane will. SAFER STREETS of security when using marked Finally, says Apostoliuk, The safety of older pedestrians is definitely a "hot – and even unmarked – crossremember that crossing a street topic" in the traffic engiwalks. Third, motorists are where one has 100 per cent neering community, says failing to yield to pedestrians, legal right of way can still UBC engineering professor even when the latter have translate into 100 per cent and road safety expert Gord Lovegrove — and for good right of way. The result: 2,600 legally dead if one is hit by a reason. Of the 74 pedestripedestrians are injured annudistracted driver. This is parans killed in B.C. in 2007, ally on B.C. roads, according ticularly relevant at night or in 42 per cent were aged 61 to ICBC, some seriously. In the rain when pedestrians in and older. Long-term, cities "need to be engineered to 2007, no fewer than 72 lost dark clothing fade into the reduce conflict between their lives, with six pedestrians streetscape like polar bears on traffic and pedestrians of on average killed annually in ice floes. all ages," says Lovegrove. Vancouver alone and nine As for motorists, the camShort-term solutions include lengthening walk pedestrian fatalities in the first paign urges the reduction of times at controlled intersecseven months of 2011. distractions, slowing down, tions in areas where seniors To address such issues, Vanexercising caution (particularly live or congregate. couver police have launched a in urban areas) and reading up campaign that includes both on traffic regulations. Apostoeducation and enforcement. "We don't want liuk notes, for instance, how many motorists to unfairly target any one group," says Shayne are unaware that almost all intersections are Apostoliuk, acting inspector for the city's considered "unmarked crosswalks." This police traffic division. "But we're ramping up means drivers have an obligation to stop for enforcement and, where warranted, writing anyone trying to cross a roadway if traffic flow tickets for both pedestrians and drivers. allows doing so safely. (above) Mark Leibowitz/masterfile, (right) masterfile p48-49_HotTopics.indd 49 School Zone HARMONY AS TRAFFIC SAFETY officer for the central Okanagan school district, retired police officer Dave Gibson has some pertinent thoughts to share with drivers, and parents in particular, as another school year gets underway. WW What are the key issues you're facing when promoting traffic safety around B.C. schools? DG: During rush hours, almost one quarter of all drivers are on their way to or from school with kids, which leads to an enormous amount of congestion as all those moms and dads jostle for position and parking. The irony is that we drive our kids because we want them to be safe. But then we behave in ways that puts other kids at risk. WW Risky behaviours such as? DG: Speeding and not obeying parking regulations are the two big ones. We don't lower speed limits and restrict parking around schools to inconvenience parents, but to promote the safety of their children. For example, we often set up Speed Watch programs around schools — to raise motorist awareness before they enter school zones. WW What other elements make up a school's traffic safety program? DG: It's important to have a traffic safety officer on the ground educating kids and their parents about traffic safety, and you need both parking and speed enforcement by police to back that up. WW What advice do you have for drivers as the school year begins? DG: Keep your head on a swivel and stay alert. In September, kids are still full of the exuberance of summer. They're often thinking more about finding their old friends than traffic safety. Also, respect the school patrol squads; these children are in a vulnerable position and they're protecting your kids as well. WESTWORLD >> FA L L 2 0 1 1 49 8/17/11 12:26:42 PM