The end of daylight savings time brings shorter days and decreased visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
With that, ICBC has crated a new pedestrian safety campaign. Community police volunteers will be handing out reflectors and road safety tips to passersby at bus stops and various locations.
“Every year in November on Vancouver island, 64 per cent of crashes involving pedestrians occur in intersections,” said Colleen Woodger, ICBC road safety coordinator.
Part of the campaign is educating pedestrians on the importance of being visible to drivers in the dark.
“We actually want people to stop and think about their behaviour when they’re out walking,” said Woodger.
Victoria Police Department Sgt. Ron Cronk said 70 per cent more pedestrians are injured in crashes from November to January compared to June to August.
“It’s getting darker, and they’re simply not being see,” said Cronk. “Never assume the driver’s seen you. You can’t always assume they’re going to stop at stop signs and traffic signals.”
Another part of the campaign is giving tips to drivers for keeping an eye out for pedestrians.
“It’s a shared responsibility,” said Woodger.
The campaign is happening all across B.C.
