Centretown residents could see countdown timers on pedestrian walk signals as early as November, if a proposal is passed by the City of Ottawa’s transportation committee.
The committee says intersections with heavy foot traffic need to be updated with the new technology, since they are now a standard under the Transportation Association of Canada.
A 2004 Transport Canada report on pedestrian fatalities and injuries states that intersections are the most common location for pedestrian accidents, and “an average of one is killed every day on Canadian roads,” most of which occur in urban areas.
Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver have installed the countdown signals, and there have been reports of less vehicle and pedestrian injuries.
According to Tom Fitzgerald, the city’s program manager of traffic engineering, the signals “provide an extra piece of information for pedestrians. There has always been an uneasiness and misunderstanding about the flashing hand and this will go a long way to explain exactly how much time pedestrians have.”
If the proposal is passed, the signals would first be installed in intersections that already need new signals, and those under construction. Several are located in Centretown, including Bank and Laurier, Bank and Somerset, and Preston and Somerset.
Installation would take a “relatively short time, depending on the location,” said Fitzgerald, with police guiding vehicles and traffic lights flashing as signals are installed.
Pedestrian safety was recently highlighted in Ottawa with a death of Lillian Westell, a 98-year old woman described as active and popular by her Centretown neighbours. On Aug. 20, Westell was hit by a car when walking home from the Ottawa Public Library and died several hours later. Her death was considered an example of the importance of providing adequate walk times for pedestrians.
Walking down Bank Street, 21-year old Qais Pasha said that he walks everywhere because he doesn’t have a bus pass, and thinks the signals are “kind of a waste of money.”
"I guess it would make a difference, but is there nothing better to spend money on?” he asked. Neal Dawe, the communications and media program co-ordinator for the Canada Safety Council, explained that in a lot of cases, pedestrains don’t play close enough attention to how much time they have, leading to accidents at intersections.
“Technology like countdown systems can be helpful for pedestrians to be more aware, and to help them get across quickly,” he said.