Toronto police launch pedestrian safety blitz Monday

TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto police launched a safety campaign, Monday, in a bid to keep pedestrians safe.

The campaign will run until Sunday, Nov. 14.

For seven days, police parking enforcement officers will be paying particular attention to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who commit offences at crossovers, crosswalks, intersections, school zones and crossing areas which are frequented by seniors.

“This is much like all our campaigns are now, that we do an education, awareness and an enforcement campaign to make sure that we’re protecting our pedestrians and the things that can cause them problems,” said Toronto police Sgt. Tim Burrows.

Collision analysis has shown that pedestrian deaths make up about 50 per cent of traffic fatalities annually within the city of Toronto.

Sgt. Burrows told 680News that the campaign is launching just after the clocks fall back this weekend, because “we have a historically larger representation of pedestrian fatalities and pedestrian collisions” between November and March, when Daylight Saving Time returns.

Burrows said it is important that pedestrians dress with the lack of daylight in mind, and suggested wearing reflective clothing.

“From everything from an arm band or a strap, to actually where you can sew into your clothing your outerwear, really really simple ideas and good and safe,” he said. “You see a lot of motorcyclists nowadays wearing reflective wear when they’re riding around even in the daytime. Is it really too much to ask for pedestrians at nighttime?”

With the time change, there is “less daylight, it’s colder and it seems to be that the logical choice of wear for a lot of people is dark clothing. It’s the exact opposite of what we need. We need bright clothing, light clothing, reflective wear, anything that really keeps pedestrians safer for us.”

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