Operations Division : Traffic Section : Collision Investigation Unit | Traffic Enforcement Unit | Traffic Services Unit | Traffic Support Team | Traffic FAQs

Pedestrian Safety

An annual average of eight pedestrians lost their lives in a motor vehicle collision between 2014 and 2019 in the city of Vancouver.

The Vancouver Police Department, Traffic Section continues to embark on pedestrian safety awareness campaigns with the primary goal of reducing the number of pedestrians involved in collisions.

What Can You Do to Keep Pedestrians Out of Harm's Way?

If You’re a Pedestrian:

• make eye contact with approaching drivers and / or cyclists
• use designated crossing points
• obey the traffic signals - only enter the intersection if the pedestrian signal is being displayed and it is safe for you to do so
• don’t presume that drivers see you - wear reflective clothing at night if possible

If You’re a Driver:

• make eye contact with pedestrians
• yield to pedestrians that are on the roadway
• watch for pedestrians at intersections, especially when making left and right turns
• put down your phone and don't drive distracted
• expect the unexpected – a vehicle stopping in a lane beside you may be yielding to a pedestrian crossing the road
• obey traffic signals

If You’re a Cyclist:

• make eye contact with pedestrians
• yield to pedestrians
• follow all rules of the road - bicycles are vehicles, too
• don’t ride on sidewalks – stay to the right hand side of the roadway or in designated lanes
• have a bicycle bell on you bicycle to warn approaching pedestrians and other road users
  

Breakdown of Recent Number of Fatalities in Vancouver

Vancouver Collision Fatalities by Road Users Groups
Year	Pedestrians	Drivers	Passengers	Motorcyclists	Cyclists	Year Total
2014	8	3	3	1	0	10
2015	11	1	0	1	1	13
2016	11	1	2	0	1	15
2017	7	5	1	1	0	14
2018	8	4	0	1	0	13
2019	6	4	1	3	0	14

(source: Vancouver Police Traffic Section)

Vancouver Collision Fatalities for 2019