The number of pedestrians struck by vehicles in Greater Sudbury each year is lower than the provincial average, but the city has averaged more fatalities, a committee was told Monday.
Members of the city's operations committee were given details of the nature of the collisions, including the time of day, year, and the areas where most incidents occur.
In the last five years, an average of about 60 vehicle/pedestrian collisions occur, although in the last two years that number was 56 (in 2014) and 55 (in 2015).
However, the number of pedestrians who have been killed as a result of the collision is a bit higher than the provincial average.
November is the most common month the incidents take place, most take place between 5 and 6 p.m., 74 per cent happen during the day and 79 per cent take place when it's sunny.
David Shelsted, the city's roads director, told the committee that people ages 15 to 24 are involved in twice as many collisions as the next highest age group.
Other findings on pedestrian collisions in the city:
- 73 per cent occurring on arterial roads;
- 60 per cent occurring at intersections;
- 49 per cent of intersection related collisions occurring at traffic signals;
- 37 per cent of drivers failed to yield the right-of-way;
- 40 per cent of pedestrians were crossing with the right-of-way.
The city has taken several steps in recent years to improve safety, Shelsted said. For example, walkers have more time on traffic signals to get across the road than the provincial average, and the city has installed accessible pedestrian signals for hard of hearing and visually impaired residents.
“We worked with the CNIB to determine where we installed these,” he said, of tactile signals in use at certain intersections.
The city has also installed pedestrian crossing signals in six locations and create refuge islands on some of the busier roads.
“It allows people to cross the half the road at a time,” Shelsted said.
And this year, a few pedestrian crossover facilities will be built, which give crosswalks added visibility.
“Without being traffic signals, they give the pedestrian the right of way,” Shelsted said.
The city is currently working with new software that will allow them to analyze collisions to determine if there's anything the city could do in collision areas to enhance safety.
“The refuge islands have been very, very successful,” said Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, who is a member of a special city committee devoted to pedestrian safety. “They also act as traffic calming.”
In response to a question from Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini about enhancing safety as school bus drop and pickup zones, Shelsted a new sidewalk policy is in the works, and a report on enhancing sidewalk snow removal is also being prepared.
The full report can be accessed here.