We know that speed kills so we are trying to give our pedestrians a fighting chance should they be struck by a car.
Toronto residents could use city streets more safely and avoid serious injury and death if city council approves new protections to help pedestrians cross streets and navigate roadways.
That’s the conclusion of a report that updates the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, approved in 2016.
The Vision Zero plan grew out of a period of carnage on city streets. The year 2002 was the most deadly in recent memory with 97 pedestrians killed and 655 seriously injured.
Since 2016, the second deadliest year when 78 pedestrians were killed, the numbers have moderated in line with safety measures council adopted. Still, traffic data shows 49 traffic deaths and 259 serious injuries last year. Only 2020 had lower fatalities, likely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Vision Zero focuses on pedestrians because they are the most vulnerable. Pedestrians are involved in only 2 per cent of street collisions but are 150 times more likely to be killed than someone in an automobile during a collision.
The primary situation that leads to injury and death is mid-block crossings by pedestrians – that is, jaywalking rather than crossing at a signalized intersection or at a pedestrian crosswalk. Data shows nearly three in 10 deaths occur here.
The next most dangerous area is being struck by an automobile turning left at an intersection. Only 4 per cent of deaths occur when struck in a crosswalk or in a pedestrian crossing at a signalized intersection, with the right of way.
As such, city staff has been focussing on how to get walkers safely across the street by increasing the number of signalized crossings, or crossings with flashing lights and ones with more visible lines painted on the roadway.
Another area of grave concern is speed limits. Council has already made drastic speed reductions across the city. Many suburban roads with a 60 km/h speed are now 50 km/h. And many of the old 40 km/h zones are now 30 km/h.
We know that speed kills so we are trying to give our pedestrians a fighting chance should they be struck by a car – in spite of our best efforts to practice safe use of our roads.
Studies show that a pedestrian has a 90 per cent chance of survival when struck by a car travelling 30 km/h. At 40 km/h the survival rate drops to 70 per cent; and only 15 per cent survival when hit by a car travelling at 50 km/h.
In Scarborough Centre we have inserted traffic calming measures in several neighbourhoods – often as a result of requests and consultations. Residents are encouraged to contact my office with requests for speed bumps, road signs and other measures that lead to safer streets. Email councillor_thompson@toronto.ca. Or call416-397-9274.
In a report set to go to Toronto City Council this month, staff recommend:
- As many as 13 new traffic signals – almost half of them upgraded from current pedestrian cross overs.
- Speed limit reductions in two areas – including Forest Manor Road between Parkway Forest Drive (south intersection) and Parkway Forest Drive (north intersection). The speed limit is to drop to 40 km/h from the current 50 km/h.
- Eight new “community safety zones” where traffic safety is promoted with signage and enforced with the higher fines for speed limit violations.
- Crosswalks can be installed at locations without sidewalks and can be installed in advance of sidewalk ramps.
- Controlled crossing locations should be marked. However, they may also be acceptable at low-speed, low-volume intersections.
- Uncontrolled crossings are not to be marked, with the exception of those with an active School Crossing Guard and no other form of control.
- Approve a new policy where crosswalks can be installed at locations without sidewalks; and crosswalks can be installed in advance of sidewalk ramps.
For more information please contact councillor_thompson@toronto.ca or call 416-397-9274.
