Don't go take a walk in Saskatoon!

by anarkissed | December 3, 2008 at 07:36 pm

299 views | 20 Recommendations | 8 comments

There's been a rash of pedestrians hit by autos in Saskatoon this year. Rapid economic and population growth has resulted in an overloaded infrastructure. Attempts to upgrade this infrastructure have closed down significant portions of roads, making matters yet worse. Police are overburdened trying to cope with all of the aspects of law enforcement from domestic incidents to traffic enforcement to internet crime enforcement. There just aren't enough of them or enough budgeted resources to go round. So traffic enforcement, being that of "ordinary citizens" is the one that falls by the wayside. How often does a speeder or a guy who runs a yellow-red light say to the ticket issuing officer "hey, don't you have any real criminals to catch?" Well they do, and in thi scity the traffic rules are so laxly enforced that traffic regularily goes 25% or more faster than the posted speed limit. Drivers who are law abiding face serious intimidation from other drivers and must resort to slower side streets, although even these are being invaded by harried commuters.
It used to be that a pedestrian could presume that he had right of way even if he was jay walking. While one should cross at logical points and pay mind to the traffic, neverthleess, drivers should still give a damn if you're there and more so, care enough to stop and try to help you out after they hit you! However, these days people in our fair city seem to have a certain madness. They jostle for position like children in an icecream line. As though letting someone change lanes or get ahead of them in another lane will mean missing out on some prize at the end of the road.
From the saskatoon police service's press release site I offer the basic list of events and dates dating from autumn of this year.

UPDATE: December 4th and I awaken to yet another story of hit and run, this time only three blocks from my home. A tow operator was working on his truck when a large sedan side swiped him and drove off without stopping, yesterday morning. I will add it to the list below. Again, same source as linked below.

UPDATE December 7th This time the listing is about erratic driving but buried in the police press release it mentions the hit and run:

Date: December 7, 2008, 1:06 AM

Released By: Sgt. Keith Briant
Subject: Erratic Driving

At, 6:30 P.M, Police detected a vehicle driving erratically at Whitney and 22nd, St, when police got the vehicle stopped the operator of the vehicle fled the scene leaving three passengers in the vehicle. K-9 was able to successfully track the runaway operator to his residence, which led to the arrest of a 23 year old male for an earlier Hit & Run at the Confederation Mall, as well as an impaired driving charge, and obstruction. The operator will be held in custody and released when sober.

Erratic Driving December 7, 2008, 1:06 AM
Car/Pedestrian Hit And Run December 3, 2008, 12:58 PM
Vehicle/Pedestrian Collision December 2, 2008, 3:39 PM
Vehicle Pedestrian Collisions December 2, 2008, 2:46 PM
Two in one night
Car Pedestrian-Hit And Run November 30, 2008, 2:49 PM
Car Pedestrian - Hit And Run November 30, 2008, 5:10 AM
again, two in one night
Vehicle Pedestrian Accident November 30, 2008, 4:55 AM
Vehicle/Pedestrian Collision November 17, 2008, 1:38 PM
Motor Vehicle Pedestrian Accident November 15, 2008, 10:56 AM
Car Vs Pedestrian Collision November 1, 2008, 2:07 AM
Pedestrian MVA October 31, 2008, 8:12 PM
Car/Pedestrian Collision September 24, 2008, 10:46 AM

11 pedestrians hit since last September, 7 of them since the start of november. Two of them hit and run accidents. There was also a hit and run accident last Summer.

source

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Paschen

at 03:41 on December 4th, 2008

Good Post, well done. Sorry though to read that Pedestrian are not safe in Saskatoon.

anarkissed

at 08:24 on December 4th, 2008

I will continue to update as more people get injured or killed by our pathetic drivers.

confused (not verified)

at 09:55 on December 6th, 2008

I wonder why the pedestrians are assumed totally blame free making the drivers pathetic.

It would confuse me less if both the drivers and the pedestrians obeyed the law, not just presuming jaywalking is safe.

anarkissed

at 11:17 on December 6th, 2008

A driver should never drive so fast he can't stop in time if an obstacle comes out from a side street or driveway. Nor should a driver be unaware of potential happenings coming from said locations. It could be a rolling concrete culvert fallen off a load as easily as a kid, dog, or drunk man with no sense. Pedestrians do need to be aware, but the drivers here are truly oblivious, drive too fast, push too hard, and put their own immediate feelings of hurry foremost ahead of safety.

anarkissed

at 21:35 on December 9th, 2008

Well maybe it is the pedestrians, two folks got hit by a train tonight, just a few blocks from my home:

Date: December 9, 2008, 10:21 PMRelease Number: 2008604
Released By: S/Sgt. Wayne WalkerOccurrence Number: 08124648
Subject: Pedestrian Train Accident

This release is being resent as some recipients did not receive it the first time.

The Saskatoon Police service attended a Pedestrian Train accident this evening at approximately 7:20 p.m. The accident happen on the CPR tracks in the area of Avenue M South, between 19th and 20th Streets West. A 61 year old male, and 44 year old female were struck by a eastbound train.

The pedestrians were transported by MD Ambulance to Royal University Hospital with serious injuries. The full extent of the injuries are unknown at this time.

The accident is under investigation by the Saskatoon Police Service and the CPR Police.

tony d (not verified)

at 12:18 on December 12th, 2008

first of all let me say

good work anarkissed. Your collection of stats is awesome. You do your homework! Driving in and around saskatoon is an adventure. Walking is tantamount to pushing your luck. What ever happened to the 'good old days' where drivers were held accountable for their road manners. Exceed your limit of points and : sorry but you are now a pedestrian. Radical huh ! As for being confused ? No need. Pit 3000 lbs of iron against 160 lbs ( or so) of human. No contest. Are pedestrians always seen to be blameless in an incident - no, nor should they be. But, as a person in control of a motor vehicle the onus is upon you to be aware of what is going around you. Just as you would be in the workplace. A couple of days ago I became engaged in an encounter with a vehicle. What really impacted me, fortunately not the vehicle, it was a close call, was the glazed-over expression on the face of the vehicle driver. The driver was rapt in a cell phone conversation and seemed totally oblivious to me. It was as if I were some kind of road pylon, to be avoided, but no harm done if run over. I do consider myself lucky. A friend of mine was not so lucky a few years ago. He was struck by a vehicle and sent flying. Some fun huh !

You know, it shouldn't be a contest between car and human. With all the mediaspeak lately about 'protecting' the environment perhaps it's time for lawmakers to enact / react. How about for starters : banning the use of cellphones, or such, while 'in control' of a vehicle . At some point in time or other we are all pedestrians. I love walking . Slow down and enjoy your surroundings.

anarkissed

at 16:46 on December 12th, 2008

It's also an enforcement issue. I know this because I was the driver in a minor encounter. The woman was crossing at a crosswalk and I was still hungover from the night before! There was a cop across the street, ostensibly a witness. I got off scot free.

The details: a vehicle was turning left. The road was coated in a layer of snow and signage was poor. The pedestrian thought the left turn was stopped for her. I went to the right lane, which ended next block, to go round the turning vehicle. Just as my fender entered the roadway, so did the pedestrian's leg. I bumped her and she stumbled along the side of my car. She had a small bruise and a limp from it. The cop had her face in her laptop and missed the whole scene.

I was extremely apologetic, everyone was nice and understanding, and i got off scot free when I knew good and well I deserved to be punished. I took a lesson in care from that and I am that much more observant when passing left turn vehicles in the right lane. However, I shouldn't have been let off. Other drivers are probably getting off just as light when they need to be more attentive.

anarkissed

at 08:07 on January 6th, 2009

Things have settled down now with the severe winter cold. Pedestrians are few and far between and drivers are extremely cautious due to seriously slippery conditions.

Police have declared in their New Year's release that they will be concentrating on traffic safety issues in 2009 and so we should see some driving improvements if they are as successful with this campaign as they have been with property crime campaigns. We should expect to see more fines handed out.