According to Halifax Regional Police’s May 2019 report on pedestrian safety, there were 78 vehicle-pedestrian collisions in the Halifax Regional Municipality between January 2019 and May of 2019. That averages out to more than 15 collisions in the HRM every month. Even more worrying, the report found that more than half of those accidents occurred at crosswalks, and 70% of those accidents occurred in the daytime without any obstruction of visibility.

It is no secret who is likely to be worse off when a car collides with a pedestrian. Often these injuries can be catastrophic, and at their worst, fatal. Yet we know many, if not most, of these accidents can be avoided when our roads and walkways are designed in a way that maximizes pedestrian safety and minimizes the likelihood of bad driving.

Strategies that the city of Halifax can implement include:

  • Creating pedestrian and cyclist only zones
  • Allowing specific times where pedestrians can cross through lighted intersections without the possibility of oncoming turning vehicles
  • Building wider roads
  • Painting bike lanes in bright colours for increased visibility
  • Separating high-speed traffic from pedestrians in traffic dense areas
  • Reducing speed limits in high traffic areas
  • Reallocating existing road space to favour public transit, cyclists, and pedestrians
  • Heavily prosecuting impaired drivers

These strategies either attempt to minimize the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians, therefore limiting the possibility of accidents, or increase the awareness of drivers in areas where pedestrians are present.

If You Have Been a Victim of a Driver’s Negligence

Despite improving road safety strategies, pedestrians are still victimized by negligent drivers. Negligent driving includes actions such as speeding through pedestrian crossings, not paying attention to the road, and ignoring street signals. At the scene of the accident, the driver may play it off as surprise accident or an insignificant event, but victims understand the true cost of their careless behaviour.

At NOVA Injury Law, we represent victims of pedestrian accidents in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Greater Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and beyond. We are aware of the severe and prolonged impacts that collisions have on victims’ lives, and on their families. We are encouraged by some of the steps that the Halifax Regional Municipality has started to take, and we hope to see the city take more positive steps toward road safety in the future. If you or someone you know has been hurt as a result of a pedestrian-vehicle collision, call NOVA Injury Law today for FREE CASE REVIEW at 1-800-262-8104.