Spike in pedestrian-involved left turn crashes in Abbotsford
Posted March 6, 2013 10:08 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS1130) – Police in Abbotsford are asking you to be careful at crosswalks. The warning comes after a spike in pedestrian-involved crashes when drivers attempt left turns.
We told you late last month about how talking on your cell while making a left turn was the most dangerous thing you could do while behind the wheel. But it seems left turns are tricky enough, even if you’re when not on your phone.
Abbotsford Police are reporting five crashes involving pedestrians and drivers turning left between last Thursday and Sunday.
“The greatest consequence is that an 86-year-old woman has lost her life as as result of being struck in a crosswalk by an SUV,” explains Constable Ian Macdonald.
“The following day, we had a 72-year-old man who was struck by a Ford F-150,” he adds.
There’s no indication as to whether distracted driving was at play here, but MacDonald says in most cases, the drivers were so concerned with watching out for oncoming traffic, they didn’t spot people in the crosswalk until it was too late.
He says drivers need to be more careful. “[They need] a greater awareness of their surroundings, obviously checking the crosswalk, seeing if there’s anybody that’s on a pedestrian island waiting to cross.”
