Time Well Spent: Crosswalk Safety

A special thanks to HRM’s Traffic and Right of Way department for this great blog all about Crosswalk Safety.  Be sure to share this with your kids as well!

Accidents at crosswalks can be easily prevented yet they are still a common concern for many parents. Take a few moments to share these simple rules of the road with your family.

Know the Basics

– A crosswalk exists at EVERY intersection whether it is painted or not.

– Drivers MUST yield the right of way to pedestrians who are lawfully within a crosswalk.

– Pedestrians should always make the intent to cross the street known and NEVER enter the crosswalk when a vehicle has already entered the intersection.

– Pedestrians may have the right of way at a crosswalk, but approaching vehicles need to be given enough time to stop.

– ALWAYS stop, look and listen to ensure vehicles are going to stop before stepping into the street.

-Pedestrians crossing the street at any location other than a crosswalk MUST yield the right of way to vehicles on the road.

– If a pedestrian signal has a push-button, it should always be pushed before entering the crosswalk.

-Drivers must avoid distractions such as cell phones and hand-held devices when driving.

– It is illegal to pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross. ALWAYS obey the speed limit and look out for pedestrians.

– It is an offence to park a vehicle within 5 metres of a crosswalk. Doing so obstructs the visibility of crossing pedestrians and drivers approaching the crosswalk.

 

Learn about Pedestrian Traffic Signals:

Pedestrian traffic signals are used at intersections where it is necessary to control the sequence of time given to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Standard pedestrian signals use the following displays:

Steady Walk Symbol: The pedestrian has the right of way to cross. Always check for oncoming or turning vehicles and then proceed across the intersection.

Flashing Don’t Walk Symbol: The pedestrian still has the right of way if already in the crosswalk when the symbol comes on. If you are in the crosswalk, continue to cross, there will be enough time to complete the crossing. If you are not already in the crosswalk when the symbol appears, DO NOT ENTER THE CROSSWALK.

Steady Don’t Walk Symbol: Pedestrians should not be in the crosswalk. DO NOT ENTER THE CROSSWALK when this symbol is displayed. Many intersections with pedestrian traffic signals have push buttons. At these locations, pedestrians should always push the button. If not, the walk symbol may not appear or the crossing time may be too short.

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS): Accessible pedestrian signals are devices added to locations with pedestrian traffic signals in order to allow people with vision loss to use the Walk and Don’t Walk signals. These devices provide sounds to indicate when it is safe to cross (a ‘coo coo’ sound for north/south crossings and the ‘Canadian Melody’ for east/west crossings). These signals may be used at locations where the crossing is considered to be complex or near public facilities such as hospitals, libraries, schools or in the downtown cores. The sounds provided by these devices are important to those with vision loss in order to help orient them and make a safe crossing.

Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCS): Pedestrian countdown signals are used in conjunction with conventional pedestrian signals at locations with long crossings (greater than 14 metres). The countdown timer comes on with the Flashing Don’t Walk symbol and counts down the amount of time remaining to cross the street before the Steady Don’t Walk symbol appears.

Pay Attention, use caution, obey traffic controls and Think Safe! Plus, remember, drivers and pedestrians share the responsibility of crosswalk safety.

Some additional resources to check out:

Download a copy of HRM’s Crosswalk Safety Booklet :

Check out these Traffic Safety Videos

Read the Crosswalk Safety Task Force Report

 

Traffic and Right-of-Way Services is responsible for the approvals and installation of traffic control devices, as well as the planning of orderly expansion and the safe, effective operation of the Municipality’s transportation network.  For more information visit: www.halifax.ca