When the days get shorter and the weather less friendly, collisions involving pedestrians and vehicles increase, according to Airdrie RCMP Constable Francine Hennelly.
Hennelly said both pedestrians and drivers need to follow a few basic rules to ensure everyone gets home safely.
“Drivers should ensure they’re constantly watching for children walking on medians, roadways, curbs. Be extra diligent when approaching intersections,” she said.
“Something that some adults aren’t aware of is that it takes kids up until the age of eight years to recognize when a car is at a standstill or a car is moving. Or the speed – we can look and judge how fast a car is going, but children have no ability to do that. Their developmental and cognitive abilities aren’t there yet.”
Tips Hennelly said pedestrians can follow include wearing bright or reflective clothing that drivers will see, making eye contact with a driver before crossing an intersection and walking towards oncoming traffic on the left hand side of the road if you must walk where there is no sidewalk.
“As pedestrians you need to follow the rules of the road,” Hennelly said. “Use marked crosswalks and follow pedestrian signs and signals. Don’t be dashing out across the road.”
Putting your cell phone away and ensuring all your attention is on the road is also something RCMP would like to encourage drivers to do, according to Hennelly. If a driver is caught driving while distracted, they face a $287 fine under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act.
Hennelly said pedestrians are also encouraged to leave their mobile devices at home or to at least keep the volume on low.
Winter, with its shorter days and slippery streets, brings a whole new set of conditions, of which Hennelly said people ought to take notice.
“It’s that lighting change. We’re not used to those conditions and people aren’t wearing bright colours and that’s when those types of collisions happen. That moment of inattention can lead to tragic consequences.”
