Ontario’s Deputy Chief Coroner, Dr. Bert Lauwers issued his report on pedestrian deaths on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, in collaboration with the Office of the Coroner.

The Report reminds us that we are all pedestrians.

According to the Coroner’s office, approximately 113 Ontarians die annually from pedestrian accidents.

The Coroner’s office suggested the following:

1. Pedestrian deaths are more likely to occur during the months when daylight is shorter. (e.g. November to March).
2. Pedestrian deaths are more likely to occur when a pedestrian and/or driver is using a mobile entertainment/communication device. (e.g. cell phone, ipod, etc.).
3. Pedestrian deaths are more likely to occur when one or more persons involved in the collision are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
4. The vast majority of pedestrian deaths are preventable.

According to the Review on Pedestrian Deaths, in Canada, characteristics of pedestrian traffic are as follows:

• 75% of pedestrian traffic fatalities occurred on urban roads;
• 60% of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes were trying to cross the road;
• 35% of fatally injured pedestrians were aged 65 or older even though they represent only 13% of the population;
• 63% of pedestrians killed at intersections were 65 or older;
• 6% of fatally injured pedestrians were under the age of 16 and of these, 20% ran out into the street;
• 33% of fatally injured pedestrians acted in a manner which caused or contributed to the crash;
• 33% of fatally injured pedestrians were struck by a driver who had committed a traffic infraction prior to the crash;
• 60% of pedestrians were killed at night or during dim light conditions when they were not seen by drivers; and
• 40% of fatally injured pedestrians had been drinking

The Coroner’s Office made 26 recommendations in the Report. Highlights of the recommendations include:

• lowering speed limits in residential areas to 40 km/h
• installing side guards on heavy trucks to help prevent people from falling beneath and getting crushed by the rear wheels
• implementing a complete streets approach to guide the development of new communities and redevelopment of existing ones
• creating an educational program for senior citizens and other adult pedestrians
• creating an educational program for drivers

The Coroner found that 67% of pedestrian fatalities occurred on streets with a posted speed limit of above 50km/h.

Other significant factors for pedestrian deaths included jaywalking, inattentive motorists and distracted walkers.

It was found that nearly one third of pedestrians died while jaywalking.

The Report notes that in 14% of the deaths, driver inattention was noted.

Pedestrian distractions including dogs, smartphones and cellphones may have contributed to 20% of the fatalities.

Canada has a Road Safety Strategy according to the Report. The vision of the Strategy is to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world. Currently, Canada is ranked 10th in terms of fatalities per billion vehicle kilometers travelled compared to other member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The key elements of the Strategy are:

• a downward directional trend in fatality and serious injury rates over the 2011 to 2015 period;
• jurisdictions will adopt a holistic (Safer System) approach addressing the vehicle, the road infrastructure, and road users based on the primary risk groups;
• an evidence-based Best Practice Framework will be adopted in choosing interventions;
• a fluid and flexible approach will allow jurisdictions to adopt best practices appropriate to their situation; and
• jurisdictions will own their road safety plans.

To achieve this, the Strategy seeks to target:

• young drivers (16 to 24);
• medically-at-risk drivers (e.g. those with heart disease or cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease);
• vulnerable road users (i.e. pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists);
• motor carriers (e.g. managers of carrier operations, truck and bus drivers);
• high risk drivers (e.g. those who don’t wear seat belts or who speed, drive impaired, or drive without a valid license) and the general population.

Dr. Andrew McCallum, Chief Coroner for Ontario stated “A road safety paradigm shift will be necessary”, acknowledging that the rising cost of fuel will result in an increase in cyclists and pedestrians.

Aaron Waxman and Associates is a Toronto personal injury law firm. We handle various types of personal injury claims including motor vehicle accident, pedestrian, long term disability and critical illness claims.