‘You have to be aware of your surroundings’: Ottawa police offer tips to keep pedestrians safe

We hear from Ottawa Police about how you can stay safe while walking this spring and summer.

The Ottawa Police Service is urging drivers and pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings, put down the distractions and follow the rules of the road, following a deadly week on Ottawa’s roads.

Two pedestrians were killed in two separate collisions on Ottawa roads this week. The Ottawa Police Service’s Fatal Collision Investigations Unit continues to investigate the two collisions.

Const. Sean Ralph told CTV Morning Live the important thing for everyone is to “be aware.”

“Drivers are responsible to make sure pedestrians are safe,” Ralph said Thursday morning.

“We’ve got crossovers and crosswalks all over the city; so, we do have to come to a complete stop, we do have to make sure that if we are making a right on a red turn, we are completing our stop and only moving when it’s safe to do so. The drivers have a huge responsibility. You won’t win against a 5,000 lbs. vehicle.”

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Ralph says the most important thing for pedestrians is to make sure “that you are protecting yourself” while walking on sidewalks and at intersections.

“Something we learn when we are really young is to look both ways before crossing the road. You know automatically in Canada, you have to look left first and then look right,” Ralph said.

“The other one is to use a crosswalk whenever it’s possible and to wait for the the ‘Bonhomme,’ so to speak, on the crosswalk and don’t go when the hand is there.”

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When you are crossing the street at a stop sign or signalized intersection, Ralph recommends pedestrians make “eye contact with the driver” before crossing the street.

“Sometimes, especially at a stop sign, that would be the best way to do it because that driver would have the opportunity to acknowledge you, and you can acknowledge them at the same time,” Ralph said, admitting he is concerned about drivers doing a “rolling stop and not seeing me walking” at stop signs.

“Sometimes I even make a hand gesture in the direction I’m going to let the drivers know this is the way I’m going.”

Distractions on the roads

Ralph admits pedestrians are being distracted by headphones and devices while walking on sidewalks across the city, adding, “It’s so bad that they’re constantly looking down.”

“When you have a device in your hand, you’re so distracted or looking down at what you’re doing,” Ralph said. “People are just so distracted by what’s happening in their hand and not aware of their surroundings. So, the big thing would be to try to get your head up.”

Ralph encourages people not to be distracted by cellphones while walking or driving.

When it comes to headphones or AirPods, Ralph recommends using only one air bud or turning off the noise cancellation.

“You have to be aware of your surroundings, that’s the big thing.”