Study sheds light on car-pedestrian crashes
Posted Dec 9, 2013 12:02:59 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A study is underway at Dalhousie University in Halifax trying to shed some light on the recent rash of car-pedestrian accidents.
The University’s Transportation Collabratory has undertaken a research project that is examining the cause of all accidents in Nova Scotia over the past five years and car-pedestrian crashes make up part of that study.
“In 45 per cent of those collisions, pedestrians have no role,” said Collabratory Director Doctor Ahsan Habib.
Habib says reasons vary when pedestrians are blamed.
“Ten per cent are improper crossing, seven percent a darting on the roadways, and four percent not wearing visible clothing,” said Dr. Habib.
Habib said weather and road conditions also play a role in the crashes.
“Pedestrians are vulnerable road users,” adds Habib “We have this culture of viewing our roads as car-only for a long time.”
Since December 2, there have been no fewer than seven incidents where a person was hit by a car in Halifax in a marked crosswalk, at unmarked intersections, and in parking lots.
