Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Heads Up! Distraction Can Be Fatal

Media advisory, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 7 a.m., Queen Street West/Bay Street,
Broadcast time: 06:10, Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Traffic Services:  416−808−1900

On Tuesday, May 29, 2012, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., at the intersection of Queen Street West/Bay Street, the Toronto Police Service will be introducing " Heads Up! Distraction Can Be Fatal."

Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects all Torontonians. Walking is great exercise, and a convenient and effective way to explore our city. We are all pedestrians at some time of day.  However, walking in the city of Toronto sometimes comes with a terrible cost.

Each year in Toronto, many pedestrians are injured and killed on our roadways. In 2011, a total of 2,101 pedestrians were struck, 18 of them fatally. In nearly half these cases, the pedestrian was at fault – not the driver of the vehicle. Tragically, many of these collisions were avoidable.

In a world where we are bombarded daily with information from electronic signage and personal communication devices, it is easy to overlook devices that are designed to keep us safe while walking: crosswalks, traffic lights, pedestrian signals, and posted signs.

The Toronto Police Service is concerned about the increasing level of pedestrian distraction, and dangerous pedestrian behaviours that can result in serious injury and death. The Service would like to remind the public to exercise caution, and remain alert at all times, while walking on sidewalks and roadways and especially while crossing the street.

The Toronto Police Service has created a pedestrian safety awareness campaign, which will run during the month of June 2012, entitled “Heads Up! Distraction Can Be Fatal.” The campaign consists of three Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos, produced by the Toronto Police Service Video Services Unit, which will be posted on the Toronto Police Service YouTube page, as well as a social media messaging campaign throughout June. The PSA videos demonstrate various types of dangerous pedestrian behaviour, as well as corrective information provided by uniformed officers of the Toronto Police Service.


The goals of the awareness campaign are to:

  • increase public awareness of the issue of distraction, inattention, and poor decision−making by some pedestrians
  • raise awareness of the dangerous and often fatal consequences of risky behaviours.
  • promote safer pedestrian behaviour through education
  • encourage better communication and understanding between pedestrians and drivers
  • reduce incidents of pedestrian injuries and fatalities
On Tuesday, May 29, 2012, Constable Clinton Stibbe of Toronto Police Traffic Services will be at the intersection of Queen Street West/Bay Street, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., to introduce the campaign to the media and discuss pedestrian safety. A press kit will be available at this time (including DVD and MOV versions of the three videos, suitable for embedded web−streaming, as well as JPEG still images).

The kit can also be obtained through Toronto Police Service Corporate Communications, at 416−808−7100.

For further information, please contact Constable Hugh Smith at 416−808−1917 or Constable Clinton Stibbe 416−808−1920.  Constable Tony Vella, Corporate Communications, for Constable Hugh Smith, Traffic Services
ID: 23596



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