With daylight savings in effect and daylight hours slowly slipping away the Kelowna RCMP is partnering with the City of Kelowna and ICBC to bring awareness to the issue of pedestrian safety. Each year pedestrians are struck crossing city streets. One of the most significant contributing factors behind these collisions is the lack of reflective clothing worn by pedestrians.
To help bring awareness to this issue, Kelowna RCMP officers along with employees with the City of Kelowna and ICBC are handing out reflective tags this week to pedestrians at busy intersections including areas surrounding North Glenmore Elementary, the Queesnway bus loop and Orchard Park Mall.
The officers and their partner agencies will be talking with youth and adult pedestrians to discuss the importance of walking safely, wearing reflective clothing and being aware of the traffic around them.
Pedestrians and motorists alike must use extreme caution when approaching crosswalks. Pedestrians cannot assume the driver of an approaching vehicle sees them. Before entering the crosswalk they MUST be satisfied the vehicle is slowing down and the driver sees them.
Drivers have a responsibility to yield to pedestrians who are entering a marked crosswalk. They also have the onerous task of dealing with pedestrians who not only have their earbuds in but who are also distracted and looking down at their phones while in crosswalks. This only complicates the issue but it is one that motorists must expect and be prepared to react to.
Walk safely