McKechnie mentioned the company advocates for shared accountability on the highway between drivers and pedestrians. He mentioned the most important factor drivers can do to extend security is to decelerate. The sooner somebody drives, he famous, the extra their field of regard narrows to the trail in entrance of them. Velocity additionally impacts a driver’s potential to cease if a pedestrian steps out in entrance of them.
“If people don’t do anything else, they should reduce their speed, not just to the speed limit but what’s appropriate for the conditions,” McKechnie mentioned. “Don’t overdrive your visibility.”
McKechnie mentioned pedestrians must also assume drivers can’t see them, and ensure a driver notices them earlier than continuing right into a crossing. Pedestrians must also attempt to put on brilliant colours or reflectors that will make them extra seen, he mentioned.
He additionally reminds drivers that pedestrians have the right-of-way in any respect intersections, whether or not they’re marked as crosswalks or not.
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Block mentioned visitors officers have seen a rise in pedestrians crossing outdoors of a crosswalk or in opposition to a sign. When patrol officers have down time, they attempt to cease and discuss to folks to remind them of protected highway practices, he mentioned.
“We’re seeing more reports from drivers where they say the person came out of nowhere,” Block mentioned.
There are scorching spots, Block mentioned, for pedestrian crashes. One space Vancouver police reply to a excessive variety of crashes is on Fourth Plain Boulevard west of Andresen Street. One other space he famous was on Andresen between Mill Plain Boulevard and 18th Road.
“You can drive down Fourth Plain between Grand and Andresen daily and see people crossing outside of a crosswalk,” Block mentioned.
Vancouver is working to enhance security and mobility on Fourth Plain Boulevard by restriping current crosswalks and upgrading pedestrian and bike indicators.
The venture’s web site famous about 300 crashes occurred on Fourth Plain Boulevard between 2018 and 2020, which made it the leastsafe hall within the metropolis.
In a few of these areas, Block mentioned metropolis crews have been working to chop again foliage on medians to assist improve drivers’ visibility of those that could also be crossing there.
Though it may be simple to grow to be impatient behind the wheel, McKechnie mentioned “we’re all pedestrians at some point.”
“More awareness, more patience on both sides can go a long way,” he mentioned.