"Take Time to Check" education and enforcement initiative, Tuesday, July 12, 2016 to Thursday, July 14, 2016 during morning and evening rush hours

Media advisory, "Take Time to Check" education and enforcement initiative, Tuesday, July 12, 2016 to Thursday, July 14, 2016 during morning and evening rush hours

Tuesday, July 12, 2016 - 4:59 AM
Traffic Services:  416-808-1900

From Tuesday, July 12, 2016 to Thursday, July 14, 2016, Toronto Police Service Traffic Services, in partnership with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), will be conducting the “Take Time to Check” safety initiative. Officers will be patrolling the main streetcar lines in the downtown core, during the morning and evening rush hour commute times, focusing on offences which occur in relation to streetcar-serviced stops.

Approximately 64,000,000 passengers use TTC streetcars every year. The Toronto Police Service would like to remind all road-users of the laws governing passengers getting on and off streetcars.

The “Take Time to Check” initiative is designed to promote the education and awareness of all road-users, focusing on the safety of transit-users.

The need to be aware and alert at all times on any road, and even in the most routine circumstances, is a key component to moving through traffic safely. This applies to pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, and transit-users alike. We ask those who drive to take extra care on the roads. If passengers are getting on or off streetcars, remember that, as a vehicle operator, you must stop before reaching the doors of the streetcar. 

This promotes pedestrian safety and reduces the likelihood of a collision.

Pedestrians/transit-users' tips
At streetcar stops, wait for the streetcar to stop and open its doors, and then look left. When approaching traffic has stopped, step on to the street and walk directly to the streetcar. When exiting, look right to ensure traffic has stopped and walk directly to the sidewalk.

General driving tips:
- scan to identify pedestrians entering the road from curbs or when approaching intersections, or TTC stops
- be ready for the unexpected
- avoid using distracting devices
- leave at least 2-3 seconds following distance between you and vehicles ahead

During this initiative, all road-users will be subject to various education and enforcement actions. Let's all work together to make your daily commute a safe one.

Traffic Services is dedicated to ensuring the safe and orderly movement of traffic within the City of Toronto. Stay informed with what’s happening at: Twitter, Facebook Fan Page, Facebook Group and on Blog

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, Corporate Communications, for Constable Clint Stibbe, Traffic Services