WATCH ABOVE: A week-long Toronto safety blitz could get you a fine between $60 to $110 dollars. More importantly though, the lessons learned could save your life. Peter Kim reports.
TORONTO – November is the deadliest month on the road for pedestrian because of less daylight, according to the Toronto Police.
As daylight decreases and the temperature stays mild enough for people to maintain their regular activities, like jogging, there can be a spike in accidents between pedestrians and cars.
“Last year there were nine fatalities in the month of November,” Toronto Police Constable Clint Stibbe said.
Stibbe said some of the more hazardous behaviours include people crossing the street during the countdown at intersections as well as crossing mid-block.
Tickets can range from $60 to $110 for pedestrians depending on the offence.
READ MORE: Why do Toronto pedestrian accidents peak at the end of November?
The Step up and Be Safe campaign is a week-long safety blitz that began Monday and focuses on unsafe driving.
Global News tagged along with police during the safety blitz Monday and within minutes spotted a driver who failed to completely stop at a stop sign
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“I was in a hurry. I think the city is in such terrible shape – pedestrians, cyclists, everyone is so crazed at the moment. The city is so congested,” Nigel, the driver of the vehicle, said.
A growing sense of frustration and demanding schedules are what often lead people to take unnecessary risks.
“We want to do things as conveniently as possible, and jaywalking fits right into that,” said Robin, who admits he has jaywalked in the past because of time constraints.
After analyzing traffic data Global News discovered the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians are outside the downtown core. The three most dangerous intersections were Markham Road and Tuxedo Court, Albion Road and Finch Avenue West, and Milliken Boulevard and Finch Avenue East. Two pedestrians are badly hurt each year at the intersection of Markham Road and Tuxedo Court despite having fewer than 700 pedestrians a day use the intersection.
Twenty-three pedestrians have been killed in Toronto during 2014, representing over 66 per cent of total traffic fatalities. These tend to decrease during the colder winter months as people spend less time outside.
The Step up and Be Safe campaign runs until November 9.
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