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September 19, 2012 Recommendations Aim to Prevent Pedestrian Deaths in Ontariohttp://news.ontario.ca/mcscs/en/2012/09/chief-coroner-releases-pedestrian-death-review.html

Dr. Andrew McCallum, Chief Coroner for Ontario, today released the Office of the Chief Coroner's Pedestrian Death Review.

The Pedestrian Death Review was undertaken as a result of concern surrounding the issue of pedestrian safety after a spate of deaths in January 2010. The purpose of the review was to examine the circumstances of 95 deaths that occurred from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010 and make recommendations to help prevent future deaths.

The review was led by Dr. Bert Lauwers, Deputy Chief Coroner, Inquests with help from stakeholders and members of the public, who contributed their comments. It resulted in 26 recommendations in the areas of leadership, legislation, education, engineering and enforcement. These include:

- Creating a Walking Strategy for Ontarians - Adopting a 'complete streets' approach to guide the development of new communities and the re-development of existing communities in Ontario - Installing side guards on heavy trucks - Providing municipalities greater flexibility to adjust speed limits and create more pedestrian crossings - Educating drivers on the scenarios that can lead to a pedestrian collision - Increasing enforcement.

QUICK FACTS

- 67 per cent of the deaths occurred on roads with a posted speed limit beyond 50 km/hr and only 5 per cent on roads below 50 km/hr. - 75 per cent of the fatalities occurred on wide arterial roads. - Pedestrians over the age of 65 accounted for 36 per cent of the fatalities but account for only 13.2 per cent of the population of Ontario. - Children accounted for 3 per cent of the fatalities. - Peak hours for pedestrian collisions were between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. - Approximately 20 per cent of pedestrians may have had some form of distraction such as a mobile device. - January was the peak month for pedestrian collisions.

LEARN MORE

- The full report is available online at www.ontario.ca/coronersreports. http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/office_coroner/PublicationsandReports/OCC_pubs.html

CONTACTS

- Jennifer Kerr Office of the Chief Coroner 416-314-4005

Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services ontario.ca/safety http://www.ontario.ca/safety