Heads up Halifax, it’s Crosswalk Safety Awareness Day

Community volunteers will be at twenty marked crosswalks and intersections throughout Halifax to bring attention to Crosswalk Safety Awareness Day.

They will be sharing crosswalk safety tips  with residents and handing out promotional giveaways including stickers, armbands, and temporary tattoos.

Halifax traffic management manager Taso Koutroulakis told News 95.7 crosswalk safety is a shared responsibility and drivers won’t be excluded.

“Police will also be pulling over motorists in select areas to hand-out promotional materials,” he said.

Crosswalk safety advocate Norm Collins said weather can be a factor in crosswalk collisions around the region but drivers and pedestrians need to be cautious in all conditions.

Police statistics show 4 out of 10 vehicle-pedestrian collisions between January and September of this year happened during the day with clear weather.

Comparing data from to the same time frame in 2013, vehicle/pedestrian collisions are up seventy per cent.

Collins said what it really comes down to is people needing to be more respectful on the roads.

“Stop rushing around, be more attentive, get their face out of their cell phone,” he said.

Zebra markings and flags have appeared in the city over the past year, but Koutroulakis said in the next couple of months another Pedestrian Safety Action Plan will be presented to council.

“Potential legislation changes to increase fines, that sort of thing will be addressed in the future,” he said.

For more information on crosswalk safety in Halifax, you can check out halifax.ca/headsuphalifax and take part on social media using hashtag #HeadsUpHalifax.

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