WATCH ABOVE: A string of hit and runs involving pedestrians has renewed calls for change. Global’s Stefan Keyes reports, it happens just before police are ready to launch and August safety blitz.
CALGARY – Hitting the streets with the traffic section of the Calgary Police Service was far from drama-free on Friday.
“You were the last car through and you had an opportunity to stop,” Staff Sgt. Paul Stacey told a taxi driver who was being given a $776 ticket for not yielding to an officer trying to cross the road.
The driver said he was going the speed limit, and didn’t think it would be safe to stop abruptly.
Stacey disagreed, saying he slowed down before rushing through.
This was just one example of bitter exchanges Global News witnessed while being given a sneak peek of the pedestrian safety blitz that will be a focus for Calgary police in August.
“In my observation, he had ample time to either stop before the intersection, or at the very least stop before hitting the crosswalk,” said Cst. Mike Nickel as he described a similar incident.
The officers were set up at Centre Street North and 7 Avenue. Several blocks down the road was where 33-year-old Farida Abdurahman was killed in a hit and run on Monday.
That same night, there was a hit and run in the intersection of Martindale Drive and Saddletowne Circle N.E.
Most recently, a mother was rushed to hospital after being hit at Temple Drive and 56 Street N.E. on Wednesday night. The driver in that incident turned himself in a day after fleeing the scene.
The string of back-to-back crashes involving pedestrians has raised concerns and renewed calls for change.
While some say enforcement isn’t the best solution, police say they are working to do their part.
“During the month of August, we’re looking at pedestrian safety and distracted driving,” said Stacey. “Now, with pedestrian safety that means we’re going to be educating some pedestrians, too. So, I just want everybody to be aware of that.”
The fine for jaywalkers is about $78 – almost ten times less than the $776 ticket that was handed out to drivers who didn’t yield to pedestrians using a crosswalk.
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