Traffic death spike sparks police campaign
Critics say initiative puts blame on pedestrians, although drivers at fault for most injuries
In the midst of a dramatic spike in traffic deaths, police launched a campaign Tuesday aimed at preventing more fatalities on Toronto streets.
But safety advocates say the effort places too much responsibility on pedestrians, who are already the most vulnerable users of the road.
Five pedestrians and two motorists died in the first 15 days of 2018, a 250-per-cent increase over traffic deaths at the corresponding time last year, police said.
The latest victim was Camila Torcato, a 5-year-old girl who police say was killed when an unoccupied vehicle rolled and pinned her and her father against another car as he was picking her up from school Monday.
The other pedestrians killed were Jessica Renee Salickram, a 21-year-old woman who was struck crossing Steeles Ave. E. after disembarking at a TTC bus stop that has since been closed for a safety review, and three seniors over the age of 70.
Speaking to reporters at police headquarters for the launch of the campaign, which the force has dubbed “Road Safety . . . It Starts With You,” superintendent Scott Baptist said police had been planning a safety blitz for months and it just happened to coincide with the rash of fatalities.
To avoid injury, he advised pedestrians to “make sure that you’re seen, make eye contact, wear brighter clothing” and remove earbuds and hoods while crossing the street.
“We need all motorists to slow down, make more room around their car, make eye contact, get their eyes up, put the phones down, drive sober.” SCOTT BAPTIST TORONTO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT
He said driver behaviour was also a “significant contributing factor.”
“We need all motorists to slow down, make more room around their car, make eye contact, get their eyes up, put the phones down, drive sober,” he said. “This is not a blame game. We’re not pointing fingers at anyone. We’re pointing fingers at everyone. Every road user plays a role in keeping this city safe.”
Three of the four online videos the force produced for the initiative focus on pedestrian behaviour. They urge pedestrians not to be distracted by phones, warn that crossing midblock is dangerous and note that older pedestrians are particularly at risk. The fourth advises drivers to slow down and avoid distractions.
Road safety advocate and lawyer Patrick Brown called the five pedestrian deaths so far this year a “crisis.” He questioned why the campaign is putting so much emphasis on pedestrian responsibility.
Acity safety review has determined that at least 67 per cent of pedestrian injuries are the result of driver error. Of 68 road deaths last year, pedestrians accounted for 42, according to statistics compiled by the Star.
Brown argued that although pedestrians have a responsibility to “use common sense and take care,” most people walking on the street won’t deliberately do anything to put themselves in danger.
“You don’t have to make a huge educational effort on that,” he said. “Where the effort should be directed is at drivers of vehicles that don’t understand that travelling at 100 km/h, or 80 km/h, or 50 km/h or 40 km/h even, with a two-tonne vehicle, you’re going to kill somebody. That’s where the effort should be directed.”
During the weeklong safety blitz, police will focus enforcement efforts on drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who commit traffic offences at crosswalks, intersections, school zones and areas frequented by seniors.
“We’re not pointing fingers at anyone. We’re pointing fingers at everyone.” SCOTT BAPTIST TORONTO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT
The initiative is part of the $80million “Vision Zero” road safety plan council passed in 2016. The strategy aims to eliminate all traffic deaths, but critics charge that it is underfunded. New York City, which has a population roughly three times greater than Toronto’s, is midway through spending $1.6 billion (U.S.) on road safety over five years, and last year incurred the fewest pedestrian deaths since records began.
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Mayor John Tory didn’t directly answer whether the spate of deaths is a sign Toronto’s strategy is failing.
“The deaths of five pedestrians on our roads in the last 15 days has been heartbreaking,” Don Peat wrote.
“The mayor has routinely supported the expansion of the Vision Zero plan because he wants to make sure Toronto’s roads are safe for pedestrians and cyclists.”