MONTREAL

City of Montreal launches pedestrian safety campaign

CTV Montreal Published Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:39AM EDT Last Updated Thursday, April 11, 2013 2:42PM EDT

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The city of Montreal says it is taking pedestrian safety seriously as it launches two months of public hearings on the issue.

On average 1,100 pedestrians are hit by cars or trucks each year in Montreal -- about 20 of those victims die.

In a CTV special report in 2011 the city said it was unaware of which intersections were the most dangerous, but 18 months later city officials say that has changed.

"We know which intersections are dangerous, and what we're suggesting tonight is to take the measures to change that," said Real Menard, of the city's Executive Committee.

Of the Top five Pedestrian collision locations CTV listed in 2011, all five have seen the number of collisions drop.

An analysis of collisions conducted by the firm CIMA+ found that 20 percent of all pedestrian-vehicle collisions happen near just 25 intersections in the city. The traffic analysts say at those intersections pedestrians and drivers just cannot see each other properly.

The city says it wants to make those intersections safer, either by synchronizing lights, or creating pedestrian 'islands' halfway through large intersections so that seniors and those with difficulty walking can get at least halfway across the street to a safe place.

"On major intersections there just isn't enough time to make it across the street before the light turns green and cars are ready to plow them right over," said Karen Urtnowski of the NDG Senior Citizens Council.

Projet Montreal councillor Alex Norris said the city of Montreal should enforce provincial rules regarding no-parking zones at intersections.

"Ensure that there is a five-metre clearance at intersections so that pedestrians can be seen and can see approaching vehicles when they're about to cross an intersection," suggested Norris.

Public consultations continue until the end of May, and the Transportation Committee will then come up with its final list of recommendations.

Safety statistics