Young
children walking home from school may not always be paying attention to
what’s going on around them. That makes it all the more important for
you, the motorist, to be on the lookout for their safety. Between 2019
and 2023, there were 153 collisions involving pedestrians that resulted
in a fatality or major injury.
Motorists:
Be alert for pedestrians
Pay attention when making a right or left turn at an intersection
Slow down when driving through school areas and residential areas
Watch for Community Safety Zones. Fines are doubled in these areas.
Yield the entire width of the roadway at pedestrian crossovers, or school crossings where there is a crossing guard
Pedestrians:
Remove
headphones; put away cell phones or other electronic devices when
crossing the street. Use your full attention so you’ll be able to see,
hear and respond safely to what is happening on the roadway.
Cross at marked crosswalks or traffic signals, not in the middle of the block where there's traffic or between parked cars.
Cross when traffic has come to a complete stop.
Make sure drivers see you before you cross.
Watch for traffic turning at intersections or entering and leaving driveways.
At
a traffic signal, cross at the beginning of a “Walk” light. Do not
cross once the “Don’t Walk” signal begins to flash or once the solid
“Don’t Walk” is displayed.
Wear bright or light-coloured clothing or reflective strips when walking in dusk or darkness.
Parents and caregivers:
Teach and reinforce the proper techniques for crossing the road safely with your child.
Stress
the importance of walking on the sidewalk, or where there are no
sidewalks, of walking facing traffic as far away as possible from the
travelled portion of the road.
When waiting to cross the street, stop before the edge of the sidewalk.
In
many areas, the City of Ottawa has built infrastructure called
pedestrian crossovers. These are designated areas where pedestrians have
the right of way when crossing the road. Vehicles must stop for
pedestrians who are crossing and wait until the pedestrian has
completely crossed the road before continuing.
Pedestrian
crossovers are much like crosswalks. They are found at intersections,
roundabouts and midblock, often where a pathway intersects a road.
All
road users have a responsibility to keep our roads safe for everyone.
As a driver, regardless of what kind of vehicle you are driving or
riding, you need to:
Watch for and prepare to stop at pedestrian crossovers.
Wait until the pedestrian has completely crossed the road (curb to curb) before proceeding.
Vehicles must not pass any other vehicle within 30 metres prior to a pedestrian crossover.
Cyclists must dismount and walk their bike across the road.
As a pedestrian, to stay safe, remember these tips:
The City has more information about pedestrian crossovers online or you can watch this pedestrian crossover video.
Cyclists are road users too |
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As
summer vacation draws to a close, motorists are likely to encounter
more young children riding their bikes as well as adults who are cycling
along our roadways.
Riding responsibly is the key to keeping yourself safe. Make a point of avoiding motorists blind spots. Stay back and stay safe. The City of Ottawa and the Province of Ontario both have
extensive information on how to keep yourself safe while cycling.
Between
2019 and 2023, there were 62 collisions in Ottawa involving cyclists
that resulted in a major injury or fatality, and an additional six
involving e-bikes. Even one incident is too many.
Motorists have a responsibility to keep cyclists safe and should:
Follow the rules of the road at all times.
Bicycles are considered vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act,
so treat them as you would any other vehicle on the road but remember
that they are more vulnerable to serious injury in the event of a
collision.
People
who ride bicycles are not obligated to use bike lanes or pathways and
are permitted to cycle on all roads in Ottawa except the Transitway,
Highways 416, 417 and Regional Road 174 (to Orléans).
Motorists are prohibited from driving or parking in all designated bicycle lanes.
When passing a cyclist, the Highway Traffic Act requires
that you leave a safe distance between your car and the bicycle. Extra
passing distance should be given when slippery road conditions exist.
Cyclists
are permitted to ride in the centre of a lane when they feel it is too
narrow for a motor vehicle to pass them, or if they feel their safety is
compromised.
Slow down or avoid puddles when passing cyclists.
Cyclists can ride on either the paved road, paved shoulder or unpaved shoulder in rural areas.
Drivers of larger vehicles should be cautious of blasting a cyclist with winds when passing, especially on dusty roads.
Cyclists
Follow the rules of the road at all times
Do not ride on sidewalks
Remember that pedestrians have the right-of-way on multi-use pathways
Be
bright at night! Use a headlight, taillight, reflectors and
light-coloured or retro-reflective clothing so motorists can see you.
Motorists may not anticipate a cyclist, so ride defensively.
Know where blind spots are so you can stay out of them. Stay in front or at the rear of the vehicle where you are visible.
Where possible, ride in a straight line and avoid dodging between parked cars, into bus bays or around obstacles.
Know where you are going and look ahead to position yourself in the correct lane.
Intersections: safety at a crossroads |
Whether
you’re a pedestrian on a sidewalk, or a cyclist or motorist driving
along the street, at some point everyone’s paths will cross. It will
likely happen at an intersection.
With
everything coming together at intersections, it’s important for
everyone to pay attention, whether the intersection has stop signs,
pedestrian crossover signs, traffic signals or is a roundabout.
Between 2019 and 2023, 54 per cent of all fatal or major injuries that occurred in Ottawa happened at or near an intersection.
Here are some tips to keep everyone safe when using an intersection.
Motorists
Do not stop in crosswalks since that forces pedestrians into traffic
When
turning, always check for cyclists, e-scooters and pedestrians,
especially on one-way streets; while vehicles can only travel in one
direction, pedestrians can travel both ways
Between
2019 and 2023, 26 per cent of collisions resulting in fatal or major
injuries to pedestrians involved a left turn movement. When making a
left turn, watch for motorcycles in the opposing lane – their speed and
distance can be hard to judge.
Only
proceed through an intersection if the way is clear and you have plenty
of time for the turn; don’t rush and watch for pedestrians crossing in
the crosswalks.
Make full stops at stop signs and red lights – no rolling stops
Be aware of vulnerable road users in your vehicle’s blind spot
Before proceeding through an intersection, make eye contact with other road users who may not see you
Sound your horn to alert other road users who may not see you
Cyclists
Ride defensively, as vehicles can’t always see you well
Never stop in crosswalks since that forces pedestrians into traffic
To cross at a crosswalk or traffic signal, dismount and walk your bike across
Signal your turns or if you are stopping
Make full stops at stop signs and red signals– no rolling stops
When stopped near a truck, you may be in the driver’s blind spot; assume the driver does not know you are there and move out of the blind spot
Before
proceeding through an intersection, make eye contact with other road
users who may not see you, especially if they are turning your way; if
the car’s windows at tinted you can look at the driver’s location in the
car to catch the driver’s attention
Be visible in lowlight conditions with:
A white light at the front of the bike
A red rear light or red rear reflector
Two strips of white reflective tape on front forks (each strip to be 125 millimetres by 25 millimetres)
Have a bell or horn on your bike and use it to alert road users near you, though keep in mind drivers may not hear it
Pedestrians
Cross in the marked crosswalk and keep your eyes on the road; don’t look at your phone or be otherwise distracted
Before
proceeding through an intersection, make eye contact with drivers who
may not see you, especially if they are turning your way; if the car’s
windows are tinted you can look at the driver’s location in the car to
catch the driver’s attention
Learn where a vehicle’s blind spot is and stay out of it
Make
yourself visible at dawn, dusk and after dark by wearing light-coloured
clothing or something reflective or carry a small light
Visit these web pages from the City and the province of Ontario for more safety tips
The
City of Ottawa continues to make improvements to the safety of our
roads and pathways with an emphasis on protecting vulnerable users –
pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The City’s 2020-2024 Road Safety Action Plan guides these engineering, education and enforcement initiatives. But even the safest transportation network requires that everyone follows the rules of
the road for their mode of transportation.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca,
call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City
using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram |
