Pedestrians hit in Dartmouth, Bedford
No charges after last week's incidents
Two pedestrians were hit by vehicles in separate incidents last week, Halifax police say.
On Feb. 11, a 25-year-old man crossing Prince Albert Road in a crosswalk near Portland Street was struck by a car turning right. It happened at 8:45 p.m.
No one was injured and the pedestrian and 17-year-old driver reported the incident to police the next day. Police are investigating, but have not laid charges.
On Feb. 14, also at about 8:45 p.m., a woman left the main entrance of the Bedford Sobeys and was hit by a car. The driver, a 49-year-old man, contacted police.
The woman left before police arrived. Police don't think she was hurt.
"Road safety is a shared responsibility," said Const. Pierre Bourdages.
"Motorists are reminded to slow down, pay attention and adjust their driving for the conditions. There is a crosswalk at every intersection, whether it is marked or not, and drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk."
Crosswalk safety committee
Halifax regional council's Crosswalk Safety Advisory Committee released a report this month. HRM should improve crosswalk safety through education and by improving data collection and use, it said.
It also recommended several traffic-control measures, including:
- Using zebra markings.
- Increasing painting maintenance.
- Approving the use of crosswalk flags where the community agrees to install and maintain them.
It also recommended convicted drivers should face stiffer points penalties and be required to take defensive driving or pedestrian safety courses.