80% of pedestrian accidents occur at intersections primarily due to distracted drivers and failing to yield the right-of way. For the months of October to January, there is a 54% increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities (28 fatalities and 954 injuries as compared to the Months of May through August where there was an average of 11 fatalities and 501 injuries).
According to ICBC statistics from 2016 to 2022, 1500 pedestrians are injured in 2000 crashed every year in the Lower Mainland alone. In British Columbia, there are an average of 1953 pedestrian injuries and 2659 crashes every year.
According to data from Transport Canada, in 2020, 15.2% of crashes with pedestrians resulted in deaths (266 pedestrians killed), and 13.4% were seriously injured.
The need to be seen by the driver as a pedestrian is paramount. Neither the pedestrian or the driver should be distracted by things such as electronic devices, unfortunately, this is the case far too often. Having eye contact with the driver is important and a pedestrian should never step out in front of a vehicle thinking that the driver automatically sees them!
Stay Bright and Be Seen!
Statistical information from ICBC data from 2016 to 2020.
]]>The ICBC fall 2020 road safety campaign using the feather safety reflector to get the message across.
]]>Posted by C Me Pedestrian Reflectors on 2020 Nov 27th
The ICBC fall 2020 road safety campaign using the feather safety reflector to get the message across.
Image courtesy of ICBC.
All drivers know how scary it is to all of a sudden find a pedestrian or cyclist right by their vehicle because they didn't see them any earlier. That is why it is so very important to make yourself visible to the driver!
Most collisions between vehicles and pedestrians take place in limited visibility. Add to this glare from other headlights, precipitation, and people in dark clothing, and you have a recipe for disaster. Quality safety reflectors can make you visible up to 500 feet away when used properly.That gives the driver 2 to 4 times more time to safety brake!If the driver can't see you, you don't exist.
This year the ICBC fall safety campaign is getting the massage across with white feather and rainbow pride feather safety reflectors. They are versatile and can be attached to bags, backpacks, coat pocket zipper pulls, walkers, and strollers.
Stay Bright. Be Seen.
Proud to be Canadian? So are we!
Check out our new Proud to be Canadian safety reflector in the online shop!
We are Canada's original safety reflector company, having been in business for 15 years! Why are we so passionate about safety reflectors? Because they truly do make a huge difference in making you visible in poor lighting conditions. It does not have to be dark outside for them to work and no batteries are not required! Attach to back of backpacks, coats, bags, bikes, strollers, pet collars, mobility assistance vehicles, walkers or just about anything else you can think of!
How many times have you said to yourself while driving, "I didn't see that person there"? Well guess what, we hear that all the time and have experienced it ourselves too many times. Don't take chances with your visibility, it just isn't worth it!
Need a stocking stuffer idea for Christmas? Check out our safety reflectors!
Seasons Greetings Canada!
]]>Posted on 2015 Oct 27th
High visibility yellow certified safety reflectors used to get the pedestrian safety message across in this falls ICBC and Police safety campaign.
Reflectors should be used at all times hanging from your bag, backpack or coat pocket where it can swing around freely to maximize visibility. Contact us for more information.
CTV Vancouver: Pedestrian safety campaign launched as days get shorter
ICBC launches pedestrian safety campaign
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), B.C. Coroners Services, provincial government and police have teamed for the ICBC’s annual pedestrian safety campaign “as crashes involving pedestrians spike at this time of year.”
The ICBC launched its annual campaign on Wednesday, noting in a press release that almost two times more pedestrians are injured in crashes from November to January compared to June to August as the weather changes and daylight hours decrease.
In B.C., nearly one in five (18%) people killed in car crashes are pedestrians, according to ICBC data for crashes and injuries and police data for fatalities, based on five year averages from 2009 to 2013. In the Lower Mainland, 33 pedestrians are killed and 1,700 injured in crashes every year; on Vancouver Island, 10 pedestrians are killed and 330 pedestrians are injured in crashes every year; in the Southern Interior, 12 pedestrians are killed and 240 pedestrians are injured in crashes every year; and in northern B.C., 90 pedestrians are injured and four pedestrians are killed in crashes every year.
The ICBC reported in the press release that the top contributing factors attributed to drivers in crashes with pedestrians are distraction, failure to yield the right of way and weather. The ICBC recommends that drivers take extra time to look for pedestrians before turning, avoid distractions and be ready to yield, while pedestrians can help stay safe by making eye contact, wearing bright and reflective clothing and staying focused on the road.
ICBC’s campaign will feature new radio advertising aimed at drivers and transit advertising aimed at pedestrians in the highest pedestrian crash areas of the province, along with online digital advertising. The corporation is also distributing free safety reflectors and tips to pedestrians with the help of community policing volunteers and other local partners throughout B.C.
“It’s the fall, and that means the evenings get darker quicker, and we can expect more bad weather such as rain and fog, and more treacherous road conditions, such as ice and snow,” said Todd Stone, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in the press release.
Lindsay Matthews, ICBC’s director responsible for road safety, added that 75% of crashes involving pedestrians occur at intersection. “Drivers must be extremely cautious at intersections – take the extra time to look for pedestrians before turning, avoid all forms of distraction and be ready to yield. So whether driving or walking, everyone has a role to play to keep pedestrians from getting injured.”
A new road safety campaign launched by ICBC aims to curb the number of pedestrian-involved crashes as less daylight and more rain combine to make B.C. roads more dangerous.
]]>Posted on 2015 Apr 3rd
CTV Vancouver
Published Tuesday, October 21, 2014 3:58PM PDT
Last Updated Tuesday, October 21, 2014 7:52PM PDT
A new road safety campaign launched by ICBC aims to curb the number of pedestrian-involved crashes as less daylight and more rain combine to make B.C. roads more dangerous.
The Crown Corporation says on average, 76 per cent more pedestrians are hurt in crashes between November to January compared to spring and summer months.
The new campaign features billboards on SkyTrain and buses across the province that encourage people to “be a safe pedestrian.”
A Vancouver police officer hands out a brochure on pedestrian safety and a personal reflector as part of a new ICBC campaign to curb fall and winter accidents. Oct. 21, 2014. (CTV)
ICBC has partnered with TransLink, Transit Police and BC Transit as well, with officers in Vancouver handing out reflectors to pedestrians to increase their visibility.
Officials say distracted driving, failure to yield the right of way and weather conditions are the top contributing factors for drivers in crashes involving pedestrians.
Drivers are being encouraged to be mindful of yielding to pedestrians, looking twice before turning at intersections and giving pedestrians extra time and space to help prevent accidents.
According to ICBC, 58 pedestrians are killed and 2,400 injured in crashes every year in B.C., on average
See the News Clip:http://bc.ctvnews.ca/icbc-aims-to-curb-pedestrian-injuries-in-fall-winter-with-new-campaign-1.2064719#ixzz3Iz1OelQt
CBC News Posted: Oct 21, 2014 5:50 PM PTLast Updated: Oct 21, 2014 8:55 PM PT
See the News Clip http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/selina-hanuse-s-death-recalled-as-icbc-launches-fall-safety-campaign-1.2808196
Nora Hanuse, who lost her sister Selina 14 years ago when she was struck in a crosswalk, says everyone is in a rush. (CBC)
14 years ago, North of 60 actor Selina Hanuse was struck and killed while crossing Nanaimo and E 24 Avenue in a crosswalk.
The driver raced through a yellow light on a cold and wet day in January. The 17-year-old was about to start college.
It's a scene that plays itself out far too often every fall says the auto insurer.
On average,ICBCsays 76 per cent more pedestrians are injured in crashes from November to January each year when conditions are dark and the weather is poor.
Hanuse'ssister Nora says Selina was headed to the SkyTrain to deliver a Christmas present to a friend when she was struck in the crosswalk.
"32 tonnes of metal hit my sister...made her fly more than, I think it was about, 100 feet. She was so mangled that they wouldn't let us view her body. They verified her with a picture and her dental work."
Even after all these years, recalling it brings Nora Hanuse to tears. She says her message to other drivers at this time of year is simply, slow down. She says everybody, including pedestrians, are in a rush.
"They just assume cars are going to slow down and they don't slow down. And people get hurt and people die this way."
A pedestrian is rushed to a waiting air ambulance after being struck while crossing the street in Abbotsford Oct 21. (CBC)
On Tuesday, on the same day ICBC was launching its fall safety campaign, an 18-year-old man was struck while crossing the street in Abbotsford and injured seriously enough to be airlifted to hospital.
Although speeding is an issue, the second leading cause of pedestrian fatalities is distraction, says ICBC. Drivers need to be paying full attention to the road, particularly in poor visibility or weather.
ICBCsays its new campaign this year will feature advertising on buses and theSkyTrain,aimed at pedestrians. Volunteers will also be handing out pedestrian safety reflectors throughout the province.
ICBC launches pedestrian safety campaign
October 21, 201411:32 am
ByPaula BakerGlobal News
It could be called ironic that on the same day ICBC launches a new safety campaign, asking pedestrians to be extra vigilant at this time of year, two pedestrian-involved collisions happened.
One accident in Richmondclaimed the life of an elderly manand the other,a teen in Abbotsford needed to be airlifted to hospitalafter being hit by a car.
It’s not surprising to see during this time of year, in particular from November to January, brings an increase of pedestrian injuries. According to ICBC, on average, 76 per cent more pedestrians are injured in crashes when conditions are dark and weather is poor compared to June to August in B.C.
“[It's the] most dangerous time of year for pedestrians on B.C. roads,” says ICBC spokesperson John Dickenson.
“In fact across B.C. about 75 per cent of all crashes involving pedestrians occur at intersections. Distractions, failing to yield and poor weather are the main contributors for these crashes.”
ICBC along with TransLink, Transit Police and BC Transit have started new advertising, which is featured on SkyTrains and in buses across B.C., to reach pedestrians on transit.
In addition to advertising, ICBC and community policing volunteers will be handing out pedestrian safety reflectors and tips at events throughout B.C. Their hope is to educate pedestrians about the importance of being visible to drivers in dark, autumn conditions.
“Nearly one in five people killed in car crashes every year in B.C. are pedestrians and most of these deaths are preventable,” said Metro Vancouver Transit Police Chief Officer Neil Dubord in a statement.
“Drivers can play a key role in preventing these crashes by staying focused on the road and avoiding distractions. As a pedestrian, it’s important to make eye contact with drivers before crossing – don’t assume a driver has seen you.”
Some tips to drivers include:
Be ready to yield to pedestrians
When turning at an intersection, look twice to make sure there are no pedestrians crossing
Give yourself extra time and space to stop in case a pedestrian suddenly crosses the street
For pedestrians, ICBC recommends:
Always make eye contact with drivers and don’t assume they see you
Remove your headphones and never talk, text or use electronic devices in an intersection or while crossing
Wear reflective clothing
Be extra cautious at intersections
According to a new ICBC survey, 76 per cent of drivers and 83 per cent of pedestrians have said they are concerned about hitting a pedestrian or being hit by a driver in an intersection.
Posted on 2014 Dec 18th
The Fact is: Safety Certified Pedestrian Reflectors can save Children’s lives.
Published September 10, 2010
B.C. Entreprenuer AnnSofie Haglund is now launching a campaign to get this CE safety certified product into Elementary Schools across B.C. and the rest of Canada.
Haglund is not just a business owner; she is also the mother of a 2 year old child. Haglund’s company, C Me Pedestrian Reflectors/Pedestrianreflectors.com, is hoping to raise the profile of the high quality reflectors because of a dedication and passion to help protect children and all other pedestrians and cyclists. There are other types of “reflectors” sold by the promotional products industry, however, they may NOT be true reflectors as they are NOT certified and do NOT need to pass any reflectivity requirements. It is important to be aware of the difference.
Haglund explains:
THESE SAFETY REFLECTORS HAVE BEEN USED IN SCANDINAVIA FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS ALREADY, THEY HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD. THIS PRODUCT IS SO INEXPENSIVE…YET SO EFFECTIVE. WHEN WORN AT EARLY DAWN, DUSK OR IN THE DARK, IT GIVES THE PEDESTRIAN “AND” THE MOTORIST A CHANCE TO AVOID DISASTER…
Haglund’s campaign was featured on the Global B.C. Morning News, in the Kelowna Courier, and is soon to be featured in other publications in BC and across Canada. She is approaching School Boards in B.C., and interest and excitement is growing. But, her company also needs safety and socially conscious corporate sponsors to get on board and attach their logo to the reflectors in order for the Elementary School initiative to succeed.
Haglund hopes to model her school campaign after the hugely successful Cats’ Eyes for Kids program in the U.K.. With corporate support from the National Building Authority – More that 12 million reflectors have been distributed to Primary aged children there in the past decade. The incidence of child pedestrian injury and death has decreased by as much as 59%. More info on the Cats’ Eye Program click here.
The CE certified and Safety Rated reflectors have also been given the support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and SickKids/Safekids Canada.
Do you know the “Hard Facts”?
A car traveling at a speed of 80 km/h moves 22 meters per second. The average reaction time is one second. The physical response takes another second. In this time the car has already traveled 44 meters. On average, a pedestrian without a reflector can be seen at a distance of 30 meters with dipped lights. This leaves the driver with only 1.3 seconds of time to react and respond. With a CE certified safety pedestrian reflector you have a driver’s attention from over 150 meters. This means that the driver has almost seven seconds to react and pass the pedestrian safely.
Vancouver, BC – Just how visible are your children when trick-or-treating? With Halloween preparations in full swing, one aspect of this annual family tradition remains in the dark: traffic safety. According to Safe Kids Canada, pedestrian injuries are one of the leading causes of injury-related deaths for children 14 years of age and younger, with October ranking as one of the most dangerous months. C Me Pedestrian Reflectors wants Canadians to take action and ensure a safer Halloween for families.
Swedish born Annsofie Haglund, the mompreneur behind C Me Pedestrian Reflectors, is deeply concerned with the lack of traffic safety awareness across Canada, “On average, over 2400 children younger than 14 are injured, and 30 die every year on our roads. As a mother of a two-year-old, these statistics are both heartbreaking and unacceptable. Most of them are preventable.”
C Me Pedestrian Reflectors was started because of Haglund’s passion to increase traffic safety awareness and to provide time tested and proven quality products. The company offers an exclusive line of Scandinavian-made reflectors that have a 40 year history, but are new to Canada. Due to the lack of certifications in North America for non-professional use, there are an abundance of unreliable “reflectors” on the market, many which do not reflect well at all. Unlike lower quality materials, C Me Pedestrian’s products are actual safety products, meeting the highest CE-standards and certification for personal traffic safety use. In addition, they come in a variety of fun collectable shapes and colours and are, more importantly, kid approved. “Pirate” themed skull reflectors are now available and an easy addition to any Halloween costume. Simply attach the reflector at your side so that it can swing freely, catching the light from as many angles and sides as possible.
By purchasing from C Me Pedestrian’s approved line of safety products you will be:
C Me Pedestrian Reflectors are available for purchase here in our store!
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