Increase in pedestrian deaths and traffic law reform
On April 4, 2017, the Ministry of Transportation, Laurent Lessard, confirmed that a bill will be introduced by early fall to tighten the Quebec Highway Safety Code.
After reviewing the 2016 road toll, Mr. Lessard concludes that overall, serious accidents have decreased on the roads. For a fourth consecutive year, deaths among 15-24 year olds are down, which is obviously, very good news!
However, the other side of the coin is a bit bleaker: there was a reported 40% increase in pedestrian fatalities, with 63 deaths in 2016 compared to 45 in 2015. These accidents are not just caused by said pedestrians; they are everyone's responsibility. The president of the SAAQ, Nathalie Tremblay, assures that this is a priority issue.
The Department of Transportation is proposing to redesign the corridors and improve signage. They have also raised the idea of limiting truck traffic on certain arteries where pedestrians are more present. Although this is a good idea, I doubt that this solution will make everyone happy, considering that it is already difficult to circulate in certain boroughs of Montreal, for example.
In my opinion, however, it's not just a matter of better signage, but rather of proper enforcement. It is not uncommon to see people hesitate when crossing in a crosswalk, not knowing if the motorist involved will stop. However, the consequences of not obeying this sign are great. You could be fined up to $200, plus court costs. In addition, up to three demerit points could be added to your driving record.
