Shorter daylight hours means staying extra alert on Mississauga roadways

With sunset arriving earlier each day, there is an increased risk of collisions on Mississauga roads. Visibility is reduced when it gets dark, making it harder to see people on the road. For Pedestrian Safety Month this October, the City is urging all road users to pay extra attention when travelling to their destination to prevent collisions, especially from evenings into the early morning.

Keep vulnerable road users safe

Vulnerable road users are those most at risk of serious injury or death in a collision with a driver. This includes pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders and transit users.

Drivers are reminded to:

• Stay alert and obey posted speed limits.
• Pay special attention near schools for pedestrians and cyclists, especially when turning and in areas with many stopped cars.
• When turning right on red, come to a full stop.
• Tune your playlist, fix your GPS and sync your Bluetooth before you start driving. Once you’re behind the wheel, your attention should only be on the road.
• Avoid using high beams unless it’s difficult to see and there’s no traffic in front of you.

Pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders and transit users are reminded to:

• Be alert and stay aware of your surroundings.
• Cross streets at designated crosswalks, crossovers or crossrides where possible. Walk your device across roads when no crossrides are available.
• Wear a helmet when biking or riding an e-scooter, and use lights and reflectors on your devices.

Road safety initiatives to support vulnerable road users

The City is continuing to work towards reaching its road safety goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries due to collisions on roadways. This year, the City is implementing several initiatives to help increase safety for road users. Some initiatives include:

• Installing 13 new pedestrian crossovers to help increase safety for pedestrians crossing the road. Drivers must stop and yield to a pedestrian using a pedestrian crossover.

• Installing 24 new traffic calming projects in residential neighbourhoods and near school zones this year to help reduce speeding and aggressive driving.

• Installing 488 Slow Streets bollards this year as part of the City’s seasonal speed mitigation program to remind drivers to slow down and be aware of other road users in neighbourhoods.

• Continuing the School Walking Routes Program to guide the way to school and alert drivers to watch for children. It also encourages students to travel to school actively by walking, biking, using a scooter or other mobility devices.

• Continuing the School Crossing Guard Program with crossing guards at more than 160 locations to help elementary school students safely cross the road.

Learn more about road safety at mississauga.ca/roadsafety.