OKANAGAN — Winter is a dangerous time for driving, but it can be just as dangerous for pedestrians crossing city streets. Five pedestrians have been killed in the past 11 days including one in Kelowna and another in Oliver. The alarming common tie with all 11 deaths: every victim was a senior.
The BC Coroners Service is now urging pedestrians and motorists to take extra caution. It reports four of the five accidents happened when vehicles were making left-hand turns.
“The deaths are in line with a recent review by the BC Coroners Service of 142 fatal pedestrian incidents which occurred from 2010 through 2012,” according to Barb McLintock with the BC Coroners Service. “The review showed that persons over the age of 70 were at more than double the risk of dying in a pedestrian incident than those in any other age group. It also showed that in cases where pedestrians were crossing at an intersection on a green light, more than two-thirds of the drivers who struck them were making a left-hand turn.”
The BC Coroners Service issued these tips to stay safe:
Safety tips for pedestrians:
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* Enhance your visibility, especially after dark. Wear light-coloured
or fluorescent clothing, or attach a light or a reflective strip to
your clothing.
* Stay alert. Watch out for drivers turning into an intersection from
left and right. Try to make eye contact with all nearby drivers before
stepping out onto the street.
* Don’t assume a crosswalk or a green light at an intersection makes
you safe. Ensure drivers see you before you step out from the curb.
* Especially if you know you may be slower in crossing a road, give
yourself the most time to cross by waiting for a newly turned green or
walk signal.
* Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, and be on
the lookout for turning or backing vehicles.
* Keep scanning for vehicles as you cross.
* Hold your hand up or do whatever it takes to make yourself more
visible to drivers.
Safety tips for motorists:
* Stay alert. Don’t be distracted by activities that take your mind off
driving or your eyes off the road. Watch carefully for pedestrians when
approaching any crosswalk or intersection.
* Ensure all pedestrians have cleared the road before proceeding.
* Take special care to watch for pedestrians or other vulnerable road
users when making a left-hand turn.
* Watch especially carefully for the elderly or mobility-challenged.
Recognize it may take them longer than average to complete a safe
crossing.
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