Crosswalk Safety
in Halifax Regional Municipality
Take charge of your own safety
Think Safe.
Table of Contents
Introduction ...................................................................1
Crosswalk Safety - The Basics . .....................................1
Types of Crosswalks . .....................................................2
Unmarked Crosswalks.......................................2
Marked Crosswalks............................................2
Overhead Crosswalk Signs...............................3
Pedestrian Half-Signals......................................3
Pedestrian Traffic Signals...................................4
Accessible Pedestrian Signals..........................5
Pedestrian Countdown Signals........................6
How to Navigate a Roundabout ................................7
It’s the Law .....................................................................8
Safety Tips ......................................................................9
Safety Quiz ...................................................................11
It is the responsibility of
every person on the road to
use caution, obey the traffic
controls and THINK SAFE!
Introduction
This booklet was created by HRM Traffic and
Right of Way Services to educate pedestrians
and drivers about the importance of
crosswalk safety. It is the responsibility of every
person on the road to use caution, obey
traffic controls and THINK SAFE!
Please read carefully, and share this
information with friends and family. It could
help save a life!
Crosswalk Safety - The Basics
Drivers and pedestrians share the
responsibility of crosswalk safety. Drivers can be easily distracted by many
things, including cell phones, other passengers
and visual clutter along our roadways. Drivers - be especially careful when turning,
and when passing vehicles that have
stopped. It is illegal to pass a vehicle stopped
for a crossing pedestrian. Pedestrians - be smart. Pedestrians may have
the right of way at crosswalks but are not
protected from the damage that may be
inflicted by an automobile. There is a crosswalk
at EVERY intersection,
whether or not it is marked
by paint and signage.
1
Types of Crosswalks
The Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act defines a
‘crosswalk’ as “that portion of a roadway ordinarily
included in the prolongation or connection of
curblines and property lines at intersections or any
other portion of a roadway clearly indicated for
pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the
surface.”
In HRM, there are several systems enabling
pedestrians to cross streets:
Unmarked Crosswalks
There is a crosswalk at every intersection, whether
marked by lines or unmarked. Drivers must always
yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully in
crosswalks.
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point
other than at a crosswalk shall yield the right of way
to vehicles on the roadway.
Marked Crosswalks
In HRM, potential
marked crosswalk
locations are evaluated
based on nationally
accepted standards.
In HRM, marked
crosswalks consist
of white painted
lines on the
roadway and four
ground mounted
pedestrian
crosswalk signs
- two facing each
direction of traffic.
Crosswalks are
marked only where necessary – to over-saturate the
streets with crosswalk markings would reduce their
significance. Marked crosswalks are repainted annually.
Where are marked crosswalks installed?
According to the Transportation Association of Canada,
crosswalks must meet the following criteria to be marked:
•Pedestrian safety is not compromised (by restricted visibility for both pedestrian and driver or unusual
conditions)
•There is no other marked crosswalk within 200 metres
•Over 20 pedestrian crossings per hour in at least one hour of the day
•Vehicle volume results in fewer than 120 pedestrian crossing opportunities per hour during peak traffic times
2
Overhead Crosswalk Signs
The basic marked crosswalk installation may be
supplemented by overhead illuminated pedestrian
crosswalk signs. These crosswalk signs may be
installed at existing marked crosswalk locations with:
• insufficient illumination
• high speed areas
• limited crosswalk visibility
On multi-lane roadways, the overhead illuminated
crosswalk sign may contain flashing amber signals
that are push-button activated.
Pedestrian Half-Signals
A half-signal is a traffic signal that stops the flow of
traffic on a major street so pedestrians may cross.
The side street traffic (minor street) is controlled by
a stop sign and these drivers must yield to both the
major street traffic and pedestrians.
Pedestrian Head
Signal Head
Stop Sign
Push Button
Minor
Street
Pedestrian Half-Signal
A pedestrian half-signal is located on Quinpool Road.
3
Crosswalk
Statistics
(As of June ‘07)
HRM has:
•approximately 4500
unmarked crosswalks
•approximately 500 marked crosswalks:
-183 of which have overhead crosswalk signs, and
-150 of the 183 have
flashing amber lights
•5 pedestrian half-signals
•252 intersections
controlled by traffic signals
Pedestrian Traffic Signals
Pedestrian traffic signals are used when it is
necessary to control the sequence of time allocated
to the pedestrian crossing. They consist of:
Steady Walk Symbol
Check for oncoming or turning traffic. Proceed
across the roadway.
Flashing Don't Walk Symbol
Do not enter the crosswalk. If this symbol appears
when you are already in the crosswalk, continue
crossing. You will have enough time to finish
crossing.
Steady Don't Walk Symbol
Do not enter the crosswalk!
There may not be enough time to cross the street.
At intersections controlled
by traffic signals,
pedestrians have the
right of way when:
To ensure sufficient
crossing time, pedestrians
requiring extra time to cross
should wait at the curb until the
beginning of a
‘Walk’ signal.
•The ‘Walk’ symbol is
displayed
•The ‘Don’t Walk’ symbol is
flashing, provided they
have already started to
cross when the ‘Walk’
symbol was displayed
Many intersections have push buttons to activate
the ‘Walk’ and ‘Don’t Walk’ signals. At these
locations, pedestrians must push the button to
activate the signal. Failure to press the button may
mean the ‘Walk’ symbol will not appear or the
crossing time will be too short.
4
Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)
Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are devices used
to allow people with vision loss to use the ‘Walk’ and
‘Don’t Walk’ signals at signalized intersections. The
APS provide walk sounds – a ‘coo-coo’ to
indicate it’s safe to cross in a north-south direction
and the ‘peep-peep’ or ‘Canadian Melody’ to
indicate that it’s safe to cross east-west.
These signals may be considered at complex crossing
locations. They may be located near public facilities such
as hospitals, libraries, schools and downtown cores of the
Municipality.
Accessible Pedestrian
Signals allow people with
vision loss to use the ‘Walk’
and ‘Don’t Walk’ signals at
intersections.
An APS crosswalk is located at Barrington Street and Spring
Garden Road.
5
Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCS)
PCS may be used in conjunction with conventional
pedestrian signals to display the amount of time
remaining to cross the street. The countdown timer
starts at the beginning of the flashing ‘Don’t Walk’
phase and continues counting down the seconds of
time remaining until the solid ‘Don’t Walk’ symbol
appears.
Driver-pedestrian collisions are
more common on multi-lane roadways.
Drivers: DO NOT pass a vehicle stopped at
a crosswalk.
Pedestrians: Make sure all lanes of
traffic are stopped or clear before
crossing the street.
6
How to Navigate a
Roundabout
A roundabout is an intersection designed to control traffic
in a circular flow. Traffic moves in a counter-clockwise
direction around a central island.
Drivers:
• Slow down as you approach the roundabout
• At the entry to the roundabout, yield to pedestrians and drivers within the roundabout
• Enter the roundabout when space becomes available
Pedestrians:
• Walk around the perimeter of the roundabout. Do not cross the circulatory roadway to the central island
• Cross only at the designated crosswalks on the entry
and exit legs. Watch for cars; you have the right of
way, but your best protection is your own attention
• Cross the crosswalk one lane at a time, using the
splitter island as a refuge area before crossing the next lane. When crossing an entry or exit with more than one lane, be sure conflicting vehicles in adjacent lanes have come to a complete stop before proceeding
Crosswalk
Splitter Island
Exit
Entrance
Walk around the
perimeter of the
roundabout. Do not cross
the roadway to the
centre island.
Central Island
Crosswalk
Crosswalk
Circular Roadway
Crosswalk
7
It’s the Law
Under the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act, pedestrians and
drivers have specific responsibilities in a crosswalk, whether
marked or not.
The Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act shall not relieve the
driver of a vehicle or the pedestrian from the duty to
exercise due care.
Drivers:
• The driver of a motor vehicle shall yield the right of
way to a pedestrian lawfully within a crosswalk.
Failure to do so may result in a fine of $394.50.
• Whenever a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk or at
an intersection to yield to a pedestrian, it shall be an
offence for the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear to overtake and pass the stopped vehicle. Drivers who do so may incur a fine of $394.50.
• The Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act provides the Registry of Motor Vehicles with the discretionary
action to request a driver to undergo a medical examination, take a defensive driving course or even suspend the driver’s licence when involved in a
pedestrian collision.
Pedestrians:
• Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a crosswalk shall yield the right of
way to vehicles upon the highway. Failure to do so may result in a fine of $394.50.
• At an intersection where traffic is controlled by traffic signals, it shall be an offence for a pedestrian to
disobey the instruction of any traffic signal.
Disobeying the traffic signal may result in a fine of $164.50.
Drivers and pedestrians
have specific
responsibilities. Do you
know what they are?
8
Safety Tips for Pedestrians
and Drivers
Pedestrians:
1.DO NOT ASSUME the driver can or will stop. It is the
responsibility of the pedestrian to ensure it’s safe to
proceed across the roadway. Traffic flow and/or
congestion may prevent a driver from seeing you or from stopping.
2.Watch for turning vehicles and do not step in front of moving vehicles that are too close to stop safely. Watch all lanes you must cross. Even though one vehicle has stopped, vehicles may pass in another lane or in another direction.
3.If you cross the street at a place other than a crosswalk, the vehicle has the right of way. It is your responsibility to yield to the vehicle.
4.When provided, always use the pedestrian push button to activate the flashing lights or ‘Walk’ signal.
5.Do not panic when the ‘Walk’ symbol changes to the
flashing ‘Don’t Walk’ symbol while you are in the
crosswalk. There is still time remaining to continue crossing the street.
6.Improve your safety by wearing bright clothing for
daytime. Wear reflective clothing for low-light or nighttime conditions.
Be visibile! Wear
reflective clothing for
low-light or nighttime
conditions.
9
Drivers:
1. Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. A stopped car may be a clue that a pedestrian is
crossing.
2. Stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have cleared the lane into which you are travelling
or turning. Watch for new pedestrians that may have arrived while you were waiting to proceed.
3. If you’re making a turn with a solid green light, a
pedestrian crossing with the same green light has the right of way. Remember, a pedestrian may have started to cross while you were waiting for a gap in opposing vehicle traffic.
4. A pedestrian passing through any intersection has the right of way if they have entered the roadway, even if the crosswalk is not marked by paint.
Pay attention! Using the
road requires full concentration
– whether driving, walking,
cycling or running. There are
many distractions (e.g. cell
phones and music). Use caution
and concentrate on the road!
10
Safety Quiz
True or False 1. In Nova Scotia, pedestrians always have the
right of way.
2. Crosswalks exist at every intersection, whether or not they are marked by paint.
3. Pedestrians should always give drivers enough space and time to stop safely. 4. Drivers must yield to all pedestrians when turning right or left on a green light. 5. A flashing ‘Don’t Walk’ symbol indicates you should be out of the crosswalk. 5. False. The flashing hand is part of your crossing time. It indicates the crossing time will soon end. If you are in the crosswalk when the flashing begins, continue crossing. Do not enter the crosswalk during this phase.
4. True! 3. True! 2. True! 1. False! Pedestrians crossing the roadway at any point
other than within a crosswalk must yield the right of way to the vehicles upon the roadway. Answers: 11
Contact Information
Questions and comments may be directed to:
Halifax Regional Municipality
Traffic & Right of Way Services
PO Box 1749
Halifax, NS
B3J 3A5
Ph: 902-490-4000
[email protected]
www.halifax.ca/traffic