Orange flags get installed at 100th Nova Scotian crosswalk
Posted Mar 23, 2016 10:24:34 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Nova Scotia initiative designed to raise crosswalk safety around the province has reached a big milestone today.
The Crosswalk Safety Society of Nova Scotia will place crosswalk flags at their 100th location, at Rocky Lake Drive and Rockmanor Drive in Bedford.
There are 78 crosswalks with the flags in HRM, and another 22 at other spots around the province.
Norm Collins has led the charge to raise awareness around crosswalk safety in the region, he told NEWS 95.7 there’s really no way to prove how many car-pedestrian collisions have been avoided because of the flags, but there’s no doubt they work.
“Whether they’re used by a pedestrian or not, they make the crosswalk more visible, and anytime our subconscious is more aware of a crosswalk, we’re all safer,” he explained.
Collins said most locations received flags because of a resident request, and each requested location needs to be approved by Traffic Services.
Flags are funded through donations, usually from businesses, associations and councillor discretionary funds.
“And individuals have come forward and simply said, ‘Here’s the $200, please put flags in near my place.’ ”
Collins said Salt Lake City is where the program started and they have over 220 crosswalks marked by flags.
He hopes to see that many or more in Nova Scotia.
