Latest news with #JamieKwong
CTV News
38 minutes ago
- CTV News
Three pedestrian-vehicle collisions in one day in Ottawa raising concerns
A recent string of pedestrian-vehicle collisions is raising concerns in Ottawa. On Wednesday, a nine-year-old-boy was struck and killed by a school bus while riding his bike in Almonte. This was followed by three separate collisions Thursday, including on the corner of George St. Sussex St. in the Byward Market, where a vehicle drove onto the sidewalk, striking a woman walking and sending her to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Ottawa councillor Stéphanie Plante says this is the first she heard about a car going onto a sidewalk, but adds the uptick in related collisions, has caught her attention. 'It's really eye opening because the more bikes and the more people we have walking, the easier it is for cars to commute if we have less people in them,' Plante says. 'It just goes to show that things like bollards, making sure that we have elevated spaces, making sure that we have pedestrian specific spaces, those can make a world of difference.' In 2023, CTV News Ottawa reported 23 vehicle collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists. 10 of those were fatal. Executive director of the Ottawa Safety Council Jamie Kwong says with the weather getting nicer it is leading to more people being outside and motorists need to be extra cautious. 'Everyone has to keep their head on a swivel and really be mindful of paying attention to what's going on, not everyone is going to have predictable behaviors and we as motorists need to be able to be ready for those situations,' Kwong says. 'When people make mistakes, it shouldn't be fatal, so, we can all do things that mitigate the amount of harm, whether or not we build our street safer or slow it down, but also as drivers, to be more aware of yourself.' Some tips from the Safety Council for drivers include to give cyclists enough space to pass them, have patience and drive the speed limit especially in residential neighbourhoods where children may be present.
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
Ottawa Safety Council's message to drivers: slow down and ‘remove your distractions'
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.'
