Latest news with #trafficAwareness
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Ottawa Safety Council's message to drivers: slow down and ‘remove your distractions'
An Ottawa Police Service cruiser blocks a section of Innes Road following a collision involving two pedestrians in Orléans Tuesday afternoon. (Ottawa Traffic Cameras/website) The Ottawa Safety Council is urging motorists to slow down on roads and put down distractions to help keep pedestrians safe this summer. Three pedestrians were struck by vehicles in Ottawa on Thursday, including a woman who was struck by an SUV on George Street in the ByWard Market. In Almonte, Ont., a nine-year-old boy died after he was struck by a school bus while riding his bicycle home from school on Wednesday. Jamie Kwong of the Ottawa Safety Council tells CTV Morning Live that the things drivers can do to keep pedestrians safe 'is not rocket science.' 'Slow down in school neighbourhoods, in school zones. Obey crossing guards. Our crossing guards are there until the last day and they're keeping kids safe, but they need your help,' Kwong said Friday morning. 'Slow it down, remove your distractions – that means don't be touching your phones, that means not eating, not playing around with the dials. If you can't be focused on what's going on and all these kids are running around with excitement, you can't react quickly.' Kwong urges motorists to check their blind spots and learn about the blind spots on a new vehicle. 'It takes a few seconds,' Kwong said. The Ottawa Safety Council is urging all motorists to obey traffic signals and ensure you communicate with pedestrians. 'Giving eye contact with pedestrians and pedestrians giving eye contact to motorists,' Kwong said. 'We have to assume people are going to be unpredictable and make mistakes, it shouldn't be fatal.' Kwong adds all levels of government need to design roads safer. 'If we're in a four-tonne car, we're in a metal casing – we're protected. Children walking, pedestrians, cyclists, seniors, motorcycle riders – these individuals are vulnerable road users so even though not everyone is going to have perfect behaviour, we have to find ways to be just that much safer.' The Ottawa Safety Council offers motorcycle training and road safety education courses. The RoadSmarts4Kids library is full of resources for learning about road safety concepts, skills and awareness. 'Education is such a big thing,' Kwong said. 'We want to teach kids young about safe, responsible road behaviours. They end up bringing that back to their parents and their parents improve.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office warns of increase in pedestrian, bike crashes
The Brief The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is sounding the alarm about a rise in pedestrian accidents. Officials say there has been a 70 percent increase countywide in pedestrians struck compared to last year. They are asking pedestrians and drivers to increase awareness and improve safety practices. LOUDOUN CO., Va. - There's been an alarming rise in the number of pedestrians hit on Loudoun County roadways. What they're saying Authorities are concerned about the staggering increase in pedestrian and bike crashes across the area. The message from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office: Pay attention, drop the phone, look at the roadways and for drivers, slow down. "I always look at the eyes to make sure no one is ahead of me or in front of me. The only way I can stay safe is to make sure they're safe at the same time I'm driving," said Martha Urquia. The backstory The alert comes just about three weeks after yet another fatal crash involving a pedestrian that occurred Friday, May 9. It was the latest incident of a pedestrian being struck in the county — just one of a growing number of pedestrians, scooter riders and bicyclists who have been hit on Loudoun roadways so far this year. According to the Sheriff's Office, there has been a 70 percent increase countywide in pedestrians struck compared to this time last year. "Drivers have to be extra alert when they're driving. You have the sun coming up earlier, glare that can strike your car. We're doing everything we can do to get the message out," Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chpaman said. Local perspective FOX 5 spoke with the sheriff but also a long-time Loudoun County resident who knows families who have been affected in pedestrian-involved accidents and says the existing infrastructure could be to blame. "One of the issues we have is that our roads are rural. We have a lot of rural-type roads that have become more urban and I just think we lack a lot of sidewalks on a lot of these roads," Leesburg resident Phillip Thompson said. Law enforcement provided some quick tips for pedestrians: Only cross at marked crosswalks. Look both ways. Wait for traffic to fully stop before stepping into the roadway. The Source Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
