Skip to content

Winter months can be deadly for pedestrians

Almost half of all pedestrian fatalities in B.C. occur between October and January
pedestrian

The days are getting shorter, which is bad news for pedestrians.

ICBC recently launched a safety campaign with the British Columbia government and police to urge pedestrians and drivers to stay safe as crashes involving pedestrians spike at this time of year.

According to stats released by ICBC, an average of 59 pedestrians are killed and 2,300 injured in crashes every year in B.C., with almost half of these fatalities – 46 per cent – occurring between October and January.

“Fall brings less daylight and weather changes including rain and fog, which means visibility can be poor this time of year,” Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone stated in a release. “Drivers need to be especially cautious at intersections and look out for pedestrians. As pedestrians, it’s critical we do what we can to be seen by drivers.”

Pedestrians can help stay safe by making eye contact, wearing bright and reflective clothing, and staying focused on the road. ICBC will be distributing reflectors and safety tips through community policing volunteers across the province in areas with high volumes of pedestrian traffic.

“One in five people killed in car crashes are pedestrians,” stated Mike Morris, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Pedestrians need to watch for drivers turning left at intersections, as they may be focused on oncoming traffic. Remove your headphones and leave your phone alone while crossing the road.”

Through ICBC’s road improvement program, more than 100 pedestrian and cyclist related projects were completed last year including crosswalks, sidewalks, countdown timers and pedestrian activated flashing crosswalks.

About 70 per cent of pedestrian crashes happen at intersections. The intersection safety camera program, a partnership between ICBC, the B.C. government and police since 1999, has cameras set up at 140 of the highest-risk intersections in 26 communities across the province. It’s one of the many enforcement, education and awareness tactics used to improve pedestrian safety.

“Drivers involved in crashes with pedestrians are often distracted or fail to yield the right of way,” said Chief Constable Neil Dubord, chairman of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee. “These behaviours are not only against the law, they’re simply unacceptable.

Pedestrians can help reduce their risk of being struck by obeying traffic signals in intersections and only crossing at designated crosswalks. Wearing reflective clothing and not being distracted by your cellphone may also be helpful in reducing your risk. Preventing these collisions is a shared responsibility. Please do your part to keep everyone safe on our roadways.”

This year’s pedestrian safety campaign will feature radio advertising aimed at drivers and transit advertising aimed at pedestrians in the highest pedestrian crash areas of the province, along with online advertising.

• • •

This week North Vancouver RCMP Traffic Services began a three month educational awareness campaign to help change the public’s behavior at intersections, including a list of the most dangerous streets for pedestrians.

Records from 2011 to 2015 indicate that Marine Drive and Hanes Avenue had seven pedestrian related injuries each while Lonsdale Avenue, 15th Street, Chesterfield Avenue and 3rd Street each registered four pedestrian injuries.

Both motorist and pedestrian behaviour must change, especially at controlled intersections, according to the RCMP. The odds of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle increase dramatically from October to December. This is due to a number of contributing factors such as the change in weather (increased rain, fog, snow etc. creates slippery road surfaces and causes poorer visibility), less daylight hours, and the reality that pedestrians do not wear any reflective clothing to make themselves more visible to drivers.

RCMP also reminded pedestrians to obey traffic signals at crosswalks – the “countdown clock” indicates that it is time to clear the intersection, not time to start walking.

“We all have a role to play to ensure our roadways and crosswalks remain safe for both motorists and pedestrians, Sgt. Bryce Petersen of North Vancouver RCMP Traffic Services stated in a release. “For pedestrians, obeying the ‘walk – don’t walk’ signals will greatly enhance their safety.”

Traffic officers will be at various intersections in North Vancouver handing out educational awareness pamphlets to all violators prior to the enforcement initiative of this project.

The BC Motor Vehicle Act clearly lists several offences related to the duties of vehicles and pedestrians, including the following offences which carry fines of more than $100: Disobey pedestrian control device (walk – don’t walk), $109; fail to obey traffic control device (red-green-amber), $121; fail to use crosswalk, $109.