Pedestrians, drivers need to be extra cautious in winter: Lloyd Hobbs

Multiple pedestrian-vehicle collisions have occurred this week in the metro St. John's area, including one that killed a 17-year-old boy, and Lloyd Hobbs with Safety Services Newfoundland and Labrador says drivers and pedestrians need to be extra cautious.

• Bishops College mourns over death of Tristin Brown, 17
• Pedestrian struck at busy St. John's intersection, taken to hospital

Hobbs, manager of traffic safety with the organization, said especially in winter, it's important for people on the roads to be conscious of everyone else — despite rules about right of way.

He said intersections are a particularly dangerous spot.

"There are always concerns with any intersection because that's where you have the closest contact with all traffic flow and everyone who uses your roadway, so your pedestrians are there, your cars are there, bicycles are there, and that's the point where there's the greatest chance of having an incident," said Hobbs.

"You have people who are given permission to cross the road and you have traffic that's given permission to move at the same time, so you have to be very careful whether you are the pedestrian or the vehicle operator to make sure that you can pass each other without incident."

Hobbs said despite best intentions on everyone's part, there's always room for error; drivers may experience decreased visibility, be unable to see a pedestrian because of dark clothing, and other issues that can't be easily controlled.

"With the modern vehicle, the a-beam — or the post that comes down between the windshield and the side glass of the car — oftentimes is much larger than it used to be because there are airbags in those, and that can obstruct someone's vision," he said.

"So we all have an obligation - the pedestrian and the driver - to be on the lookout for each other."

The dangers of driving

The collision Monday that resulted in the death of Tristin Brown is still under investigation by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, and police say it's still too early to say if charges will be laid or not.

While Hobbs didn't comment on the specific incident, and he doesn't know what happened, he said everyone has an obligation to watch out for other traffic to ensure safe travel.

"Families, not just one family, many families are always affected when something like this happens, so that's a very good reason for us to all be very conscious when we're on our roadways," he said.

"Driving is probably the most dangerous activity that anyone will take part in, and certainly anyone who is around a roadway is in a very dangerous area."