News Release: November 2, 2018
November is Pedestrian Safety Month in Peel
BRAMPTON, ON (Nov. 2, 2018) – Autumn is the time of year when we see an increase in pedestrians hit by motor vehicles, as shown by Peel Regional Police statistics. For this reason, November has been declared Pedestrian Safety Month in Peel by a community partnership involving the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton, the Town of Caledon, the City of Mississauga, Peel Regional Police, the Caledon OPP detachment, Teens Learn to Drive, and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
Everyone can help improve pedestrian safety with these simple actions:
When driving:
- Remember to scan the intersection for pedestrians before turning left or right. 53% of pedestrians hit last year in Peel were struck by vehicles turning left and right.
- Put devices out of reach or on ‘Do not disturb’ mode and focus on the road. A driver who uses a cell phone while driving is four times more likely to be involved in a crash than a driver who is focused on the road.
When walking:
- Take a moment to find and press pedestrian pushbuttons – This will bring up the ‘Walk’ signal, and often gives you more time to cross.
- Don’t start crossing when the ‘Don’t Walk’ signal is displayed or flashing – This signal means by law that it is not your turn to cross.
- Cross in clearly marked crosswalks or pedestrian crossovers, where drivers are expecting to stop for pedestrians. Avoid crossing elsewhere whenever possible.
To learn more and to test your knowledge on pedestrian safety IQ, visit peelregion.ca/pedestriansafety #PedestrianSafetyPeel
The Region of Peel is making infrastructure changes to improve pedestrian safety, including:
- Building pedestrian crossovers to create more places for pedestrians to cross with the right-of-way,
- Adding pedestrian crossovers to right turn channels, giving pedestrians the right-of-way to cross to the island,
- Reducing crossing distances by bumping out curbs and reducing lane widths,
- Investigating strategies like leading pedestrian intervals that give pedestrians the ‘Walk’ signal before drivers get a green light. The goal is to make pedestrians more visible to drivers turning left and right.
On September 13, 2018, Peel Regional Council endorsed the Vision Zero Road Safety Strategic Plan, which outlines actions to improve road safety through improved engineering, enforcement, education, and empathy. The "Vision Zero" framework, which originated in Sweden in 1997, highlights that no loss of life is acceptable and is based on a system of shared responsibilities among all of those involved in the road system .
For more information, visit peelregion.ca/visionzero.
Media Contacts
Gloria Leonardis
Communications Specialist
Region of Peel
905-791-7800 ext. 4667
About Peel Region
In 2024, Peel Region marks its 50th anniversary. Peel Region works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe, and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.5 million people and over 200,000 businesses in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. Peel's services touch the lives of residents every day. For more information explore peelregion.ca and follow us on X @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
On December 13, 2023, the Ontario government announced that Peel Region will not be dissolved, and that Bill 112 legislation will be updated to reflect service delivery in Peel. Services for residents and businesses will continue without interruption. For updates and more information, visit Peel's transition page.
