You wouldn’t know it, but the amount of vehicle collisions in Timmins have gone down 17 per cent.

Timmins Police revealed their stats that cover January-June 2017 at their Board Meeting Thursday, revealing that in that time frame, there have been 477 collisions.

In that same time in 2016, there were 580.

But the stats don’t stop there. While it wasn’t revealed how many pedestrian collisions there were in 2016, police say there have been more in 2017.

20 pedestrian collisions have occurred in the first six months of the year, and police even broke the stats down in categories to show causes, times and even days of the week.

pedestrian collisions

With kids ready to go back to school in the next couple weeks, the Timmins Police is urging drivers to continue to be conscious of pedestrians and other drivers alike.

They say drivers will see an increase in pedestrian and cyclist traffic—especially in the morning and late afternoons—and want to emphasize the rules of the road.

“Drivers are reminded to come to a complete stop at all intersections, and be aware of pedestrians, especially when turning,” they say in a release, “Drive slowly through school zones and residential areas, or anywhere that children could be playing. Exercising patience is also important, especially with seniors, those with disabilities, or children, who may need more time to cross the road.”

And it’s not just a warning to drivers either. They say pedestrians should exercise caution as well.

“Pedestrians are reminded to stop before crossing to ensure they are seen by drivers,” they say, “Only cross at traffic lights and stop signs once all traffic has come to a complete stop, and only cross at marked crosswalks or traffic lights.”

“Crossing between parked cars or in the middle of the block is very dangerous.”

When it comes to cyclists, police say they use the same rules as motor vehicles on the road…and that includes driving on the right-hand side of the road, as close to the right edge of the road as possible.

“Wearing bright-coloured or reflective clothing may also increase the chances of being seen by drivers, especially at dusk or at night,” they add, “Drivers wishing to pass cyclists must wait behind the bicycle until safe to pass, and then pass slowly, leaving a distance of at least one meter between the vehicle and the cyclist.”

Police is calling on parents and guardians to pass along the message to children as they begin the school year.

“Teach children about road safety,” police say ,”Teaching children to stop at all intersections, look both ways, and walk as far away from traffic as possible is important in preventing future pedestrian collisions.”

“Keeping these laws and tips in mind will help to ensure a safe return to school for all residents.”

Filed under: Local News