Pedestrians and Drivers Get Heads Up

By Corey Fischer

Nov 2, 2018 | 11:21 AM

City of Vernon RCMP volunteers and staff, along with ICBC and RCMP will be at various locations this month promoting pedestrian safety (RCMP photo)

Drivers and pedestrians are being encouraged to keep their Heads Up in a new campaign being launched in Vernon.

The campaign is a reminder that pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility, and October to January is when almost half (43%) of the injury accidents take place.

Police officers and city volunteers will be giving out reflectors and safety tips at targeted locations starting Nov. 7th.

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There will be signage on location with pedestrian safety messaging, and a social media campaign using the hashtag #HeadsUp.

One of the main tips is to make sure pedestrians are visible, and to make eye contact with drivers if you are crossing the street

“Often pedestrian involved collisions occur when drivers are executing right or left hand turns at intersections and when pedestrians are either jay-walking, wearing dark clothing or not paying attention to what’s around them as well,” says Cst. Kelly Brett.

Christine Kirby, an ICBC road safety coordinator, says 43 per cent of all crashes where a pedestrian gets injured happen in just four months of the year, October to January, as visibility and conditions get worse.

“When driving, we need to take a break from our phones, be extra alert at intersections and be ready to yield the right-of-way. When walking, we need to help drivers see us by staying focused on the road and making eye contact with drivers.”

“Whether we are walking, biking, or driving, we all have a responsibility to take care of each other on our roads,” says Angela Broadbent, Active Transportation Coordinator at the City of Vernon. As the days get darker, it is important to slow down and be mindful, especially at intersections and in areas frequented by children.”

For more information on road safety and pedestrian tips, please visit the BCRCMP website or Vernon.ca/headsup.

by Corey Fischer