Ottawa Safety Council's message to drivers: slow down and ‘remove your distractions'

CTV News

4 hours ago

An Ottawa Police Service cruiser blocks a section of Innes Road following a collision involving two pedestrians in Orléans Tuesday afternoon. (Ottawa Traffic Cameras/website)
The Ottawa Safety Council is urging motorists to slow down on roads and put down distractions to help keep pedestrians safe this summer.
Three pedestrians were struck by vehicles in Ottawa on Thursday, including a woman who was struck by an SUV on George Street in the ByWard Market. In Almonte, Ont., a nine-year-old boy died after he was struck by a school bus while riding his bicycle home from school on Wednesday.
Jamie Kwong of the Ottawa Safety Council tells CTV Morning Live that the things drivers can do to keep pedestrians safe 'is not rocket science.'
'Slow down in school neighbourhoods, in school zones. Obey crossing guards. Our crossing guards are there until the last day and they're keeping kids safe, but they need your help,' Kwong said Friday morning.
'Slow it down, remove your distractions – that means don't be touching your phones, that means not eating, not playing around with the dials. If you can't be focused on what's going on and all these kids are running around with excitement, you can't react quickly.'
Kwong urges motorists to check their blind spots and learn about the blind spots on a new vehicle.
'It takes a few seconds,' Kwong said.
The Ottawa Safety Council is urging all motorists to obey traffic signals and ensure you communicate with pedestrians.
'Giving eye contact with pedestrians and pedestrians giving eye contact to motorists,' Kwong said.
'We have to assume people are going to be unpredictable and make mistakes, it shouldn't be fatal.'
Kwong adds all levels of government need to design roads safer.
'If we're in a four-tonne car, we're in a metal casing – we're protected. Children walking, pedestrians, cyclists, seniors, motorcycle riders – these individuals are vulnerable road users so even though not everyone is going to have perfect behaviour, we have to find ways to be just that much safer.'
The Ottawa Safety Council offers motorcycle training and road safety education courses. The RoadSmarts4Kids library is full of resources for learning about road safety concepts, skills and awareness.
'Education is such a big thing,' Kwong said.
'We want to teach kids young about safe, responsible road behaviours. They end up bringing that back to their parents and their parents improve.'