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After 64 Deaths, Demand for Road Safety Surges in Toronto

January 4th, 2016  |  Canadian Business

Last year was deadly for pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, and drivers. Toronto was the site of 64 road fatalities in 2015, the highest number of traffic-related deaths since 2004. Pedestrian advocates hope Ontario’s new driving laws are just the opener to a larger, more comprehensive road safety plan for the new year.

Pedestrian advocates criticize the city, insisting that Toronto prioritizes traffic relief over pedestrian safety. In an article by Metro, Albert Koehl, a local lawyer, says that most pedestrian deaths occur on major roads with few crosswalks and high speed limits. In other words, the most dangerous streets are those that favour drivers.

In response to outrage over last year’s tragic road deaths, Toronto’s general manager of transportation, Stephen Buckley, maintains that the city’s roads are safe. Buckley reports that the rate for last year’s road fatalities was about 2.4 deaths per 100,000 residents. In contrast, New York’s rate in 2010 was 3.3. deaths per 100,000 residents.

Buckley asserts that his team is working hard to determine what safety measures should be taken and in which intersections.

Meanwhile, Mayor John Tory has pledged to tackle the issue of road safety with renewed vigour in 2016. On top of his promise to regulate Uber and taxi services equally, the city is expecting a lot of changes to its roads this year.

Image Courtesy of Adobe Stock