Advocate says Halifax goals for safety unmet after pedestrian killed

Halifax safety advocates are urging the government to take action in order to reduce the number of pedestrians who are injured or killed by cars. This call for action comes in the wake of a tragic incident where a senior citizen lost their life after being struck by a vehicle while walking on a marked crosswalk.

In 2018, the city of Halifax set a goal to decrease the number of pedestrians killed or injured in collisions by 20 percent over a span of five years. However, recent data indicates that this target has not been met. Additionally, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of tickets issued by police for speeding or distracted driving in recent years.

Norm Collins, the founder of the Crosswalk Safety Society of Nova Scotia, expressed his disappointment in the city’s failure to achieve its pedestrian safety goals. He emphasized the need for improvements in both traffic enforcement and engineering, with a particular focus on cracking down on speeding violations.

Statistics obtained from provincial data reveal a significant decrease in the number of tickets issued for distracted driving and speeding over the past decade. Collins highlighted the dangers of speeding, stating that it reduces a driver’s ability to react promptly to pedestrians in crosswalks and increases the likelihood of causing serious injuries in the event of a collision.

Coun. Sam Austin, chair of Halifax’s transportation committee, indicated that traffic safety is a top priority for the city this month. He suggested that the province should implement legislation that would enable the use of traffic camera systems to monitor speeding, as this technology is more cost-effective than deploying additional officers for traffic surveillance.

Marla MacInnis, a police spokesperson, acknowledged the effectiveness of traffic cameras in promoting safer driving practices and expressed the force’s interest in exploring their use once the Traffic Safety Act is proclaimed.

Collins and Austin both emphasized the importance of reviewing traffic engineering around crosswalks to enhance driver awareness. While some improvements have been made in recent years, such as providing pedestrians with a head start at certain intersections, they believe that further measures, such as rumble strips and advanced traffic signals, should be considered to improve safety.

Martyn Williams, another advocate for pedestrian safety, suggested alternative engineering solutions, such as creating pinch points for drivers approaching intersections, to encourage vehicles to stop for pedestrians.

In light of the recent pedestrian fatality, Lee Warren, who lost his mother in a similar incident in 2020, emphasized the need for continuous efforts to improve pedestrian safety. He stressed that every tragedy serves as a reminder that more work needs to be done to prevent future accidents and protect vulnerable road users.