Deadly month for collisions with pedestrians in Toronto, 34 killed this year

TORONTO — November has been a deadly month for pedestrians in Toronto. Last week alone, three people were struck and killed in the city and there were more incidents across the GTA.

So far this year in Toronto, 34 pedestrians have died in collisions with cars. It was 27 by this time last year.

“We actually see the spike for pedestrian collisions begin in September,” says Const. Clint Stibbe with Toronto Police Traffic Services.

“It goes higher in October, peaks in November.”

READ MORE: Pedestrian pointers: 4 ways to stay safe on Toronto roads

With many fatal collisions occurring in the early morning hours, Stibbe says changes in sunlight and weather during that stretch are major factors, but not the only ones.

He says pedestrians can increase their own safety by wearing brighter clothing and being more aware of their surroundings while crossing streets during that time of day; increase their own vision by not wearing bulky hoods that cover the sides of their heads and ditch the headphones.

Drivers aren’t perfect either, though. How many times do you find yourself on “auto-pilot” on your way in to work?

You’d call it a smooth drive in, but Stibbe says that routine presents its own dangers.

“They’re oblivious to what is happening around them and that is where we see these collisions occur.”