Sometimes we do it without thinking. We step off the curb, unaware of our possibly fatal mistake.
We cross where there is no intersection, when the light isn’t in our favour. We’re distracted, chatting with friends, listening to music or reading a funny text on our smartphone.
Or just as often, we’ve done nothing wrong. We’ve obeyed the traffic signal but someone in a car decides to race the light in a hurry to get home. Or a young driver, showing off for his friends, takes a corner too quickly, jumps the curb and we’re gone.
In Ottawa, eight pedestrians lost their lives last year. Six more were killed a year before that and in 2008, 10 people died.
Earlier this fall, the Ontario Provincial Coroner’s office announced it would review pedestrian fatals over the last five years. The probe aims to identify common factors in the deaths and make recommendations to prevent more.
The fatalities are a growing concern for city officials and police, who plan to roll out new initiatives to curb such incidents.
Too often, such tragedies are preventable, say pedestrian safety experts and police.
“I think there’s a problem on both sides. I think a lot of these (pedestrian-car) collisions are preventable,” said Ottawa police spokesman Const. Henri Lanctot. “People cut corners. Safety has to be paramount for both.”
Safety experts recommend pedestrians take steps to prevent mishaps — such as visible walking gear, using a buddy system and forgoing headphones.
“Not just in Ottawa, we’re seeing a lot of inattention when people are walking,” said Valerie Powell, of the Canada Safety Council. “Especially in downtown cores, people really need to pay attention.”
But even in instances where pedestrians have the right-of-way, they must still pay attention, say experts.
“There could be a false sense of safety,” said Powell. “If you have distracted drivers and distracted pedestrians that could be a potentially fatal consequence.”
And while people may feel safer walking home after a few drinks, that could also be deadly decision if they’re not careful, said Powell.
Statistics suggest impaired walking is a growing concern, with 40% of pedestrians killed on Canadian roads in 2008 drunk. About two-thirds of them were more than twice over the legal limit, according to Powell.
This year has not been any better for pedestrians in Ottawa, with eight deaths so far.
The latest was a senior struck and killed by a garbage truck along Merivale Rd. last Thursday.
For the families of loved ones, the coroner’s investigation is welcomed news.
Ming Deng, the father of 17-year-old girl Serena Deng, who was run down in September, said he hopes the investigation will lead to safety recommendations to help pedestrians.
“We really hope all the communities are pedestrian-friendly,” said Deng.
Serena, a University of Ottawa student, was hit by a pickup truck as she walked across a busy stretch of Eagleson Rd.
The site of her death, at a park-and-ride near Hwy. 417, led to a campaign calling for safety measures, such as speed radar boards and a pedestrian bridge.
Although Serena’s death is not included in this study, her father welcomes any measures to help protect pedestrians.
danielle.bell@sunmedia.ca
@DBellReporting
2010
Nov. 20: Alta Vista Dr., between Dale Ave. and Industrial Ave., 7 p.m.
An elderly man dies after being hit by a van while crossing the street with a walker. There are no lights or crosswalk near the scene.
Sept. 16: Bank and Albert streets (2 deaths), 10:30 p.m.
Paul and Sherry Regnier are killed when a man fishtails onto the sidewalk.
Aug. 28: 4800 block of Brophy Dr., 12:30 a.m.
A 20-year-old man dies trying to hail a car he thought was his ride home. When he realizes it isn’t, he runs back across road and is hit by an oncoming car.
Aug. 11: Montreal Rd., near Lafontaine Ave., 10 a.m.
A 59-year-old man is killed after he is hit by a car. Police believe the 81-year-old male driver of the car hit the gas instead of the brake as he left a parking lot.
July 21: Eastbound lanes, Hwy. 417.
Woman hit by a car and killed while walking along highway.
Jan. 15: St. Laurent Blvd. at Brittany Dr.
A 71-year-old woman is hit by a car.
2009
Dec. 18: Bank St. north of Kilborn Ave. 8:45 p.m.
A 58-year-old man is killed crossing Bank after he is hit by a pickup truck.
June 21: Baseline Rd. at Clyde Ave., 4 p.m.
One man dies after being hit by a motorcyclist on Baseline.
April 25: Montreal Rd. west of Vanier Pkwy., 6:20 p.m.
A 48-year-old man dies crossing Montreal Rd. after being struck midway by an eastbound van and westbound Jeep. Teen girl also hit. Police say pedestrian emerged from in front of a car or between two parked cars.
March 26: Russell Rd. at Haig Dr.
A 50-year-old blind man dies after he is hit by a school bus at the corner of Russell and Haig. He was walking with the light at a crosswalk. Driver is charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian.
2008
Sept. 7: Somerset St. W near Lyon St., 12:30 a.m.
A 54-year-old man is killed as he crosses Somerset. Driver has licence restrictions, no insurance and leaves the scene.
Dec. 18: Bank St @ Gloucester Ave, 3 p.m.
A 60-year-old pedestrian is hit and killed during rush hour in Centretown.
Dec. 15: Hwy. 417, near Anderson Rd. and Walkley Rd., 4:30 p.m.
A 49-year-old man is walking along the highway when he is hit by a tractor-trailer.
Freezing rain and slick road conditions are a factor.
Oct. 31: Rideau St. at Cumberland St., 11 a.m.
An 86-year-old woman dies after she is hit by a dump truck.
Sept. 27: Nicholas Ave. near Laurier Ave. east, 2 a.m.
A 24-year-old man is walking on Nicholas when he is hit by a car and dragged about 50 metres.
Aug. 20: Laurier Ave. east @ Waller St.
A 98-year-old woman is crossing Laurier when she is hit and killed by a car. A 52-year-old man is charged with careless driving.
July 15: Colonel By Dr. at Rideau St
A 38-year-old man is hit by a car while walking in the area.
2007
Aug. 14: Cops say collision that kills a 71-year-old man not suspicious. Car driven by 81-year-old woman.
Oct. 22: A 26-year-old man is hit by a taxi on the Airport Pkwy. as he attempts to cross near Hunt Club shortly after 4:30 p.m.
2006
Oct. 25: Sandy Hill
A 78-year-old woman is hit and killed by a garbage truck.
Sept. 21: Rideau St., near Cumberland St., 8:30 p.m.
A tractor-trailer travelling eastbound on Rideau St. strikes and kills a man near the corner of Cumberland St.
Nov. 5: Ottawa River Pkwy. near Parkdale Ave., 1 a.m.
A male pedestrian is killed after he is struck by a car entering the eastbound lanes of the parkway.
Sept. 11: Bayview Dr., Constance Bay, 3:30 a.m.
A driver misses his turn and slams into a garage attached to a home. As he flees, he strikes a 29-year-old man and woman who are walking down the road. One person dies. The driver is charged with multiple offences.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/12/13/death-just-a-step-away
