Pedestrians and cyclists be aware! Opinion from a lawyer.

Going by the numbers from 2016, recent trends show that collisions with cars for both pedestrians and bikers continue to be on the rise. In June of 2016, reports from the Toronto Police show that there were 542 reported incidents of pedestrian collisions and 541 reported incidents for cyclists; equivalent to 9.5 crashes every day. Overall, this represents a considerable year over year increase over the number of collisions in 2015.
This report is just another in a series of data showing that fatalities for pedestrians at road crossings have steadily increased by 15% over the last five years.

The beautiful weather encourages Torontonians to enjoy the great outdoors, it is important to be mindful of the dangers posed to pedestrians and cyclists. Data indicates that the summer months are the most deadly for these groups with regard to the potential for auto collisions.
Active transportation collisions are most likely to occur at intersections and at major arterial crossings. Toronto ranks poorly amongst other Canadian cities for road safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and the estimated cost of collisions is over $60 million a year.

Pedestrians

The city of Toronto continues to expand in size and become more population dense. As with many other large urban cities around the world, the easiest and most efficient way of getting around is simply by walking to your destination. In fact, many Torontonians pride themselves on the walkability of the city.
Pedestrian accidents are most common on arterial roads, and in intersections and midblock crossings. About 69% of pedestrian- driver collisions occur at these specific sites. Crossing at midblocks is especially dangerous given that vehicles are often travelling at higher speeds. With regards to fault, in pedestrian fatalities the driver is responsible around 50 to 60 percent of the time, due to reasons such as driver negligence, excessive speed, or human error. The pedestrian is responsible about 30% of the time, due to factors such as improper crossing, not looking both ways, etc.
More often than not, the pedestrians have had the right of way in accidents. About 67% of collisions occur where the pedestrian had the right of way, as opposed to 19% where the driver had the right of way. Another alarming statistic is that pedestrians account for over half (52%) of all fatalities and 11% of all injuries from collisions with automobiles in the city of Toronto. The youth and elderly are especially at risk, as young adults have the highest number of collision- related injuries, and over 50% of pedestrian fatalities were people aged 65 and older.

Cyclists

Biking is a popular and efficient way of getting around the city in the summer. The City of Toronto encourages cycling as it promotes a healthy lifestyle and avoids the congestion and environmental impact of automobiles.
Similar to pedestrian accidents, a majority of cyclist collisions occur on major and minor arterial roads. To note, approximately 2/3 of the collisions involving cyclists happen on roads where there are no bike lanes. Research from other jurisdictions such as New York and London has shown that separating bike lanes for cyclists can greatly reduce the incidence and likelihood of cycling collisions with motor vehicles. Preliminary reports from locations in Toronto have also indicated that simply separating bike lanes can be significant for reducing cyclist collisions. Read more about legal support for bicycle accidents.

What does this mean for me?

As the city of Toronto continues to expand and densify, there will be more incidents of where pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers will be in close proximity and at risk of a collision. Being aware of your surroundings, being prescient of the possible risks and taking care and responsibility in your daily activities can go a long way towards minimizing the likelihood of collisions and injury.
In addition to this, we encourage every day citizens to be knowledgeable of your rights as a fellow user of the road. This means that one should be educated on the statistics and advocate for greater safety measures such as funding crosswalks, pedestrian zones, lights and bike lanes. Finally, it means taking responsibility for your own safety whether you are a driver, pedestrian, or cyclist. Knowing the right of way, looking both ways before crossing the street, and exhibiting careful road behavior can help save lives and reduce injuries.
Finally, if you have been involved in an accident with a motor vehicle while walking or biking, it is important that you seek legal representation from experienced professionals such as Grillo Law in order to protect your rights. At Grillo Law, we have over 25 years of experience helping clients that have been in your exact situation.