City of Vancouver says number of pedestrian crashes and fatalities are down

The City of Vancouver says the number of pedestrian crashes and fatalities has trended downwards in the past 10 years, but more still needs to be done.

The City held an event on Thursday morning to highlight the progress they have made to increase pedestrian safety, but with the days getting longer and more people out walking, the event was also to remind everyone to be mindful of safe behaviour when out walking, biking or driving.

Engineering improvements made by the City so far have included pedestrian safety measures such as countdown timers, LED lighting, left turn changes and slower walk speeds.

“The City of Vancouver works closely with our partners to identify appropriate steps to improve pedestrian safety and make our streets safer for everyone through engineering, enforcement and education,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “The City’s focus is on engineering improvements, and to date 30 out of the 44 priority locations throughout Vancouver have received safety upgrades.”

“Vancouver was named the most walkable city in Canada by Walkscore, but we can do better,” he added. “Our goal is to have zero pedestrian fatalities, and we’re going to continue to invest in making our streets and sidewalks safer for pedestrians of all ages.”

Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu said drivers and cyclists should make eye contact with pedestrians, and pedestrians should look into the eyes of the driver or cyclist before they attempt to cross.

The City will complete pedestrian safety improvements at the remaining priority intersections by the end of 2014.