Raise the Hammer

"Alcohol and speed have been ruled out by the Collision Reconstruction Unit."

Will be curious to learn exactly what went wrong.

Condolencse to the family

"[...]speed have been ruled out"

So the car wasn't moving?

(kidding)

A red light camera seems to be the hand waving solution to this problem according to today's paper. This is an emotional and unreasoned response. Why hold a community meeting if they already have a predetermined solution? Anecdotally, I can say that the red light camera at King and Dundurn doesn't make that intersection safer. All it does is raise cash while able bodied people still approach the intersection with fear and trepidation. Anyone with any type of physical limitation would probably stay clear of this abomination altogether.

Red light cameras don't work nearly as well as lengthening the yellow. Hamilton's yellow lights are set to the minimum length (maximum danger) allowed by law (3.3 seconds)

Ward councillor Tom Jackson says the busy Mountain intersection, used by 25,000 vehicles a day, is a hot bed for more than 100 seniors who cross daily, some using canes or walkers. He's been told repeatedly they feel unsafe.

"There have been a lot of near misses," Jackson said, adding reckless driving contributes greatly to the safety issue. "They (drivers) are putting the pedestrians potentially at peril."

Jackson is organizing a town hall meeting next month with members of police and senior citizens who live in the area. It will be held at 801 Upper Gage where Webb lived, but a date has not yet been set.

Jackson hopes to call the new red-light camera "Webb Camera," in a tribute to Vivian Webb.

Jackson has also been working with the city's traffic department and police to increase the pedestrian countdown signals. Right now, pedestrians have 25 seconds to cross the four lanes before the hand starts flashing. He says it's a great challenge for some who walk slowly and they panic when the flashing hand appears.

"We need to do something to get the message across," he added. "We have a lot of vulnerable seniors that cross here and pedestrians should always come first."

Peter Webb, 61, finds it ironic his mother was hit at that intersection. He would often hear her scold other seniors who tried to cross on the flashing light there just steps from her apartment.

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/3837839-police-probing-crash-that-killed-senior/


If the crosswalk timing is unrealistic based on established neighbourhood demographics, it seems to me that it's not just drivers at fault. The City is putting the pedestrians potentially at peril.