Pedestrian safety

Emergency: 9-1-1
From outside Montréal : 514 280-2121
Info-Crime: 514 393-1133
SMS Txt Info-Crime Montréal : 274637
Your message should be preceded by the word ICM

You are here: Home » Publications and medias » Major Portfolios » Toward a new generation of neighbourhood police

Pedestrian safety

October 10, 2008 - The goal is to encourage pedestrians to cross safely at intersections and to encourage drivers to respect crosswalks. Awareness and mobilization activities have been organized, as well as road checks to reduce the number of accident victims and improve our road safety record.

This safety campaign is carried out locally by the officers at the various neighbourhood stations, in conjunction with the traffic and motorcycle officers from the Division de la sécurité routière et de la circulation, intervention groups, Section métro de Montréal officers and parking agents.

With the Ville de Montréal campaigning to make walking a more common means of transportation - active, enjoyable and safe - the police service is taking appropriate steps to provide greater protection for pedestrians and cyclists.

That's why the speed limit has been reduced on local roads from 50 km/h to 40 km/h, with the exception of certain throughways. This is one of the measures that will definitely help save lives: a pedestrian struck by a car travelling at 50km/h has a 70% chance of dying, compared to a 25% chance of dying if the car is only travelling at 40 km/h.

Throughout the month of October, the police will be paying special attention to:

Compliance with traffic signals - red lights, pedestrian lights
Compliance with right of way at crosswalks - pedestrian crossings - turns on green

And they will encourage pedestrians to cross at intersections instead of between intersections.

2007-2008 Road Safety Record

January 1 to September 1

Accidents involving pedestrians	2007	2008	2008/2007 change
Number of deaths	19	9	-53%
Number of serious injuries	82	44	-46%
Number of minor injuries	833	709	-15%
Number of accidents	934	762	-18%

Since the beginning of 2008, the SPVM has stepped up our interventions with pedestrians to help people change their behaviour and reduce the likelihood of being involved in an accident. Our efforts have had a clear effect, because there has been a significant reduction in the number of pedestrian deaths on our roads this year: 9 people lost their lives, compared to 19 in the same period the year before.

The SPVM wants to remind our citizens to pay special attention to the following rules:

Pedestrians:

Cross at the intersection or at a nearby pedestrian crosswalk.
Obey the traffic and pedestrian lights at intersections.
Before stepping into a yellow crosswalk that is not regulated by traffic lights, make sure you can make it all the way across safely.

Not following these rules can lead to a $15-$30 fine, plus fees.

Drivers:

At red lights, stop your car before the pedestrian crosswalk, the stop-line or the near side of the roadway you are about to cross.
At green lights, pedestrians have the right of way. If you want to turn, allow the pedestrians to cross the intersection first.
At green arrows, yield to pedestrians who have already entered the crosswalk.
At pedestrian crosswalks, stop to allow pedestrians to cross safely: they have the right of way.

Not following these rules can lead to a $100-$200 fine, plus fees, and up to 3 demerit points.

Throughout the campaign, you will be reminded about these safety rules by radio and newspaper ads. This is our message to everyone: "Be careful out there, don't play with your safety".

Alternate information

This text will be replaced

Postes de quartier map

Neighbourhood police station

» Identify your PDQ «