Pedestrian incidents are a leading cause of injury and death for children in Canada, and it turns out that our residential streets are more dangerous than we think.  More child pedestrian injuries take place on residential roads than anywhere else, and the danger is greatly increased as vehicle speed increases.

Yet many Canadian drivers overlook the impact of their speed.  Did you know that a child hit by a car traveling at 50 km/h has an 80% chance of being killed?  Yet a child hit by a car traveling at 30 km/h, has up to a 95% chance of surviving.

According to a new Safe Kids Canada survey released today, 14% of Canadian drivers admit to driving at least 10km/h or more over the speed limit in residential areas. Given the posted residential limits range between 40 and 50km/h, this translates into an average speed of at least 50 or 60 km/h.

According to Transport Canada,

• Two million Canadians admit to often speeding up to make it through a traffic light
• More than half (58%) of Canadians admit to having received a speeding ticket.
• Of those who admitted to speeding: 57% didn’t want to be late, 51% believe the speed limits are set too low, and 51% weren’t paying attention to their speed.

More than a third of Canadians (34%) believe that if a child is hit by a car, the driver is not responsible for the incident.  However, the onus is on drivers to maintain and operate a motor vehicle in a responsible manner.  Remember, kids are just kids.

Drivers need to realize that if a child is injured in a motor vehicle collision, they will be held accountable – so each driver must be prepared to shoulder that responsibility.  It is unreasonable for adults to make children responsible for their own safety on the road.   Children’s physical and mental capacities are still developing well into their teens.  They are unable to make reasoned judgments about pedestrian safety and therefore, cannot be held to the same standards as adults for their decisions. Drivers must be prepared for children to act like children.

Most of us know the rules of the road, but we may not be aware of the physics of the road. For example, we travel almost as far thinking about hitting the brakes, as we do after actually hitting them at many speeds. As a result, it takes us much longer to stop than we think.

A staggering 2,412 children are seriously injured each year and approximately 30 are killed.  The average child pedestrian who is killed in Canada is male, between the ages of 10 and 14 and was crossing the street at an intersection within 5 kilometers of his home. Most incidents occur between 3 and 6 p.m., when many Canadians are driving home from work.

We know that child pedestrian injuries are preventable. The fact is the majority of children are being hit at an intersection where adults have told them it is safe to cross the street. The evidence shows that drivers are more likely to yield to child pedestrians and avoid collisions if they drive the posted speed limit.  So we’re kicking off Safe Kids Week today by encouraging all drivers to be aware that their speed makes a difference and they should drive the posted speed limit. It could mean the difference between life and death to a child.

We’re also educating Canadians on the Community Pace Car program.  This allows Canadian drivers to pledge to stick to the speed limit in residential areas.  In exchange, they’ll receive a Community Pace Car “mobile speed bump” decal, available for download at www.whatstherush.ca. 

Concerned citizens can work for by-law changes to reduce residential speed limits and implement pedestrian-friendly urban planning. Walking is also a healthy, “green” alternative that can be encouraged through urban planning and speed enforcement.

Reducing traffic speeds is still the number one recommendation for keeping pedestrians safer. At speeds greater than 40 km/h, both drivers and pedestrians may be more likely to make mistakes in judging the time required to stop or cross the street safely.  At a speed of 30 km/h, vehicles and pedestrians are able to co-exist with relative safety.  The majority of Canadians (85%) agree they would willingly slow their speed from 50 km/h to 30km/h in residential areas if they knew it would have a positive impact on child safety.  Knowing it can save a child’s life should encourage all Canadians to follow the rules of the road and practice safe speeds.

Safe Kids Week is sponsored by Johnson and Johnson, and together we’ve developed some great pedestrian safety tips.  Parents can download our Safe Roads, Safe Kids brochure online at safekidscanada.ca.  Drivers should go to www.whatsherush.ca to see firsthand the impact their speed has on child pedestrians.

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