Pedestrians Targeted
Posted by nicolesharlene on 2010/01/28
This story was broadcasted on the Global News Jan. 27, 2010.
The Toronto Star posted an article on Jan. 27, 2010.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/756558
In celebration of this week’s blitz to increase awareness of
pedestrian safety, Toronto police handed out nearly 100
fines to jay-walkers yesterday.
14 people have been killed in past few weeks for carelessly
crossing busy downtown streets.
Police officers patrolled Young St and Eglington Ave,
issuing tickets for impeding traffic and not using designated
cross walks. Tickets ranged from $18 to $100.
Why should I care?
This story reminds Ontario residents that jay-walking is illegal.
Citizens need to realize that motorists can’t always slow down
their vehicles. If the possibility of getting run over doesn’t
deter someone from walking out into the middle of the street
then maybe a stiff fine will do the trick.
I was shocked to see so many tickets being given out to people
for jay-walking. I found myself asking the TV; didn’t your parents
teach you to look both ways before crossing the street?
When the reporter said 14 people have been killed in the past
few weeks from j-walking, I was horrified. People must be
driving so fast they can’t slow down. Why are people not
using crosswalks?
It wouldn’t surprise me if I-pods and cell phones had something
to do with people getting killed. Everywhere you look, people
are listening to I-tunes while texting friends and still trying to
function in a society where you need your eyes and ears.
We live in a technology based era where safety and
multitasking are a balancing act performed by all.
It’s now illegal for drivers to use handheld devices
while operating a motor vehicle because they’ve proved
it causes accidents. Will they make it illegal for pedestrians
to cross the street while being distracted by handheld devices
as well?
When I lived in Toronto, I never crossed the street expect at
the crosswalks. Some of the craziest drivers are in Toronto.
You would have to be insane to walk in the middle of traffic on
Young St or Eglington Ave. There are always heavy amounts
of traffic downtown and drivers don’t stop for anyone unless
they absolutely have to.
Drivers in Toronto are always in a hurry, constantly honking
their horns at each other and at pedestrians. Someone is bound
to get hurt when there is this constant struggle to save time
and get on with your life quicker than everyone else. Toronto
taxi drivers are the worst for driving fast in and out of traffic
and not wanting to stop for people to cross the street. They
act like they own the road, making u-turns where ever they please.
I think the moral of this story is common sense. People should
know better than to walk out into the middle of traffic. Cars are
bigger, faster and hit a lot harder.
There were a lot of mixed attitudes about the presence of
police officers on the downtown streets. We have to
remember that they are here for our safety.
$18 to $100 is a small price to pay when compared to
getting run over by a Toronto motorist.
