AI-powered study finds pedestrians, cyclists face daily danger at intersections, including in Ottawa

The CAA used artificial intelligence to highlight the daily dangers at intersections in Ottawa and across Canada. CTV’s Peter Szperling reports.

A new CAA study used cameras and artificial intelligence to monitor and analyze intersections, and found pedestrians and cyclists face “life-threatening” near-misses every day.

According to CAA, this is the largest Canadian study of its kind, looking at 20 intersections in 20 cities across Canada.

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In Ottawa, the focus was on the intersection of Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive. The city nominated this as a busy intersection, according to a CAA news release.

Nationally, 616,854 near-misses were recorded over seven months, involving one-in-770 pedestrians and one-in-500 cyclists.

The study found near-misses most often involved vehicles making a right turn. More than half (55 per cent of pedestrians and 50 per cent of cyclists) had a close call with a vehicle. And more than a third (34 per cent of pedestrians and 36 per cent of cyclists) were involved in conflict with a left-turning vehicle.

“Every day, pedestrians and cyclists are barely avoiding serious incidents with vehicles that could lead to truly tragic outcomes. They’re not isolated to one city, nor are they rare close calls. These are daily, regular occurrences and a warning of what could happen,” says Julie Beun, managing director of communications and public relations for CAA North & East Ontario, in a news release.

CAA and its study partner Miovision identified key intersection design features that could reduce the risk of these near-misses, including separate right-turn lanes, having walk signals start before vehicle green lights, and giving left-turning vehicles a dedicated green light before other traffic.

“Working with CAA and municipalities across Canada, we’ve been able to reveal traffic safety risks before someone gets hurt. This study shows why it’s so important to use real-time data to expedite critical safety decisions,” says Kurtis McBride, CEO of Miovision in a news release.

“As more cities embrace a proactive approach, our technology empowers them to act faster, target interventions where they matter most, and build safer streets for everyone.”

• RELATED: These were the most dangerous intersections for collisions in Ottawa during the first 3 months of 2025

According to CAA, data was collected using 360-degree cameras at intersections of various designs across seven provinces, including Nova Scotia, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Using AI-powered video analytics, Miovison was able to detect near-misses and assess risk levels based on vehicle speed and trajectory. Detailed findings of the study can be found here.

“We used AI to analyze what was happening at intersections. To track the trajectory of both the cars and the pedestrians or the cyclists and to be able to assess how close those near-misses were,” Beun told CTV News in an interview.

CAA’s tips for drivers to avoid hitting pedestrians and cyclists:

• Check for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the street as you make a left or right turn.
• Ensure the crosswalk and bike lanes are clear before making a left or right turn.
• Yield to pedestrians crossing the street.
• Pedestrians may approach from your right or be hidden by parked cars — scan both sides of the street before turning.
• Be aware of cyclists that may be travelling straight while you are making a turn into their path.
• Turning at a slow speed can give you more time to react to unexpected movements from pedestrians and cyclists.
• Check your blind spots. Do a full shoulder check as your side mirrors might miss a cyclist or pedestrian.
• When turning right on red, come to a full stop, then look both ways for people crossing and for cyclists riding up on your right.

CAA’s tips to pedestrians and cyclists to stay safe at intersections:

• Be alert and remain focused, especially in low visibility.
• Make eye contact with the driver. Ensure you are seen.
• Avoid jaywalking.
• Obey pedestrian signals and only cross at marked crosswalks and intersections.
• Wear bright, light-coloured clothing or reflective strips, especially in low-light or dark conditions.
• Watch for vehicles turning at intersections or backing out of driveways.