Pedestrian safety

Everyone has a role to play in making our roads safe.

Test your safety IQ:

• When walking
• When driving

When walking:

• Stop, look, and listen before crossing, even when it is your turn to cross.
• Make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you before you proceed.
• Avoid distractions like texting, cellphones and headphones when crossing the street.
• After dark, drivers cannot see people in dark clothing until it is too late. Be bright at night; wear reflective materials or lights when walking at night, dawn and dusk.
• Jaywalking is dangerous; cross at pedestrian crossings.

When driving:

• Look for pedestrians, especially when turning left or right. Before turning left at an intersection, scan left, centre, right, and then left again to check for pedestrians crossing. Before turning right on a red, scan left, centre, right, left again, and then check your right mirror for cyclists and pedestrians. Avoid using handheld electronic devices (texting or talking) or other distractions when driving. Give the road your full attention.
• Pedestrians are hard to see at night, dawn and dusk. Be extra vigilant.
• Drive within the posted speed limits and adjust according to weather and traffic conditions.

Where do pedestrians have the right of way?

Pedestrians have the right of way at:

Pedestrian crossovers are coming to Peel

Crossovers are typically located:

• in the middle of a block
• at intersections without traffic lights
• at right turn lane channels, where pedestrians cross to an island before pushing the pedestrian push button.

Pedestrian crossovers have been built in Caledon East on Old Church Road, and in Palgrave on Regional Road 50. Crossovers are also being integrated at the right-turn channels of intersections maintained by the Region of Peel. (The Region of Peel maintains these roads.)

Drivers and cyclists must wait for pedestrians to cross the entire roadway at school crossings and pedestrian crossovers. Failure to follow this law can result in 3 demerit points and a fine of $150 to $500. This rule does not apply at stop signs or traffic lights unless a crossing guard is present.

For cycling safety information, visit Walk and Roll Peel.

Know your pedestrian signals for safety

Tips for crossing safely

• Look for pedestrian push buttons. Pushing the button is important because it will bring up the walk signal and give you more time to cross. If there is no push button, the pedestrian signal will come up automatically.
• Sometimes you need to wait an entire light cycle before the walk signal is displayed.
• When the walk signal appears, make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you. Always check that it is safe to cross the road before crossing.
• At two-stage crossings, pedestrians are to follow the signal and cross the first half of the crosswalk to the centre median. Then push the button again in the median and safely wait for the next walk signal.

Pedestrian Crossing Safety Brochure (PDF)

Improving pedestrian safety

The Region of Peel has reviewed traffic collision information, pinpinted key problem areas and set actions to make improvements. Learn more about Peel's Vision Zero Plan.

Call Peel Public Works at 905-791-7800 if a pedestrian signal is not working properly or to report a problem.