London’s roads are getting a new safety measure in preparation of the upcoming school year.
The first of 22 pedestrian crossovers was unveiled Thursday by Mayor Matt Brown and members of city council. Crossovers are identified with new distinct pavement markings and crossing signs.
Despite the torrential rain plaguing the ceremony, the newly-installed crossover on Viscount Rd., north of Galloway Cres. was officially christened, with promises to keep children safer come September.
"This is an important location,” says Brown. “It's a location that's very close to a couple of schools. It just demonstrates that this is one of 22 crosswalks that will be installed here in London between now and the beginning of the school year."
Child safety is always a primary focus during the school year and Brown thinks this is yet another measure to help ensure children make it to and from school safely.
"I think that all of us are very concerned about the safety of our children, we're focused on, unfortunately, here in August the return of back to school in September, and we know that there will be thousands and thousands of young people walking along our sidewalks and across streets,” says Brown. “So what this does is give us another tool to make the travel to and from school safer."
Ward 10 counsellor, Virginia Ridley, is also glad to see these measures being implemented, knowing how this will be music to the ears of concerned citizens in her ward.
"One of the biggest issues I hear about in my ward is safe streets for children to walk to go to activities, to go to school,” says Ridley. “I’m extremely happy that the first pedestrian crossover is being unveiled in ward 10, and that they're going up over the city."
Although she has received little criticism of the project from the public, Ridley says that for those who do poke holes in the plan, they don’t realize the big picture.
"I think every bit we do is a piece of the picture, and I have people saying that doing A or doing B is not going to be the solution, and I agree,” says Ridley. “It's the combination of all of the things we're doing that's going to help."
While these changes are going to come as a bit of a surprise to some Londoners, it is clear that a focus will be put on education and enforcement of the crosswalk rules. Sergeant Amanda Pfeffer of the London police traffic management unit understands that the crossovers may take some getting used to, but clarifies that the rules of the road are nothing new.
"Education for the public is key in ensuring the success of these,” says Pfeffer. “We will be out conducting enforcement, so our traffic unit officers will be made aware of the locations, and they will be out at the locations, as will our patrol officers."
The process of installing all of the crosswalks across the city will be lengthy, giving Londoners time to adjust. However, those who don’t follow the laws will face fines ranging from $190 to $500 and three demerit points.
**This story was written by Samuel Gallant. Samuel is a student in the Fanshawe College broadcast journalism program. He is performing a summer internship with Blackburn News.**
