A man described by Toronto Police Operations as in his 50s was struck and hospitalized at the corner of Davisville Ave. and Mt Pleasant Rd. Friday night. Police remained on the scene in bitterly cold weather three hours later as part of accident reconstruction. Several homes for the elderly line the west side of Mt. Pleasant between Merton St. and Davisville. This accident occurred during the peak afternoon period afternoon for pedestrian accidents. It is matched by a similar dangerous period in the morning when people are up and about but it is still dark
MUST BE CAREFUL
Clint Stibbe
PC Clint Stibbe of Toronto Traffic Services spoke on CP24 about traffic fatalities in 2015. At 64 dead, it is the highest number of traffic fatalities recorded in 11 years. The toll of pedestrians was 38. In 2014 the number of traffic deaths was 51 and in 2013, 63. The highest number of total traffic deaths in recent years was 66 in 2004. Stibbe said the highest number of pedestrian collisions happen while vehicles are making left turns. The second highest is during right turns followed by mid-block crossings.
PARKING LOTS ARE DANGEROUS
Collisions in parking lots came in fourth. Parking lots are tricky because the rules of the road often seem suspended. Both pedestrians and drivers move in irregular patterns and frequently appear from any point on the compass. This is a common complaint at the Loblaws parking lot at 301 Moore Ave.
THE ELDERLY
Older people are vulnerable for reasons of reduced agility, awareness and inability to recover as easily from an injury. Experts say older pedestrians — and others — should have a strategy when crossing. Follow the lights, watch for cars turning especially from behind and if crossing in mid block, wait until stop lights at a nearby corner has stopped traffic. Never cross diagonally nor by charging into the street, especially on a four lane road. “It doesn’t take much, especially when an individual is older, for their body to receive a substantial injury,” Stibbe says.
