Vancouver police cracking down on jaywalkers

by Barry Artiste | November 3, 2007 at 10:21 am | 632 views | 5 comments

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UBC students a rare sight to see only a few

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Opinion

Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Perhaps with crime and murders in the forefront, maybe Vancouver Police need some better direction.

If Vancouver Police are serious and feel Jaywalkers are a going concern, may I direct them to UBC Campus where Vancouver Police can quadruple their "fines" budget to rival a small third world country just on UBC Students in jaywalking fines.

UBC students, our future leaders of tomorrow seem oblivious to sidewalks, perhaps see them as a nuisance as they stroll and sometimes just standing there chatting in large groups in the centre lane of Campus streets by the hundreds, if not thousands of students wearing their Ipods while cars try to avoid hitting them, with students giving only a cursory glance.

Campus Security and RCMP who patrol the Campus most likely do not know what a jaywalking offence is much less what a form looks like, as I have never seen one jaywalking ticket issued.

Ah to be young, apparently immortal and live in a Country known for it's Free Hospitalization Plan.

Vancouver police are being especially vigilant this month in targeting jaywalkers because November is one of the most dangerous periods for pedestrian injury and death.

Vancouver police are teaming up with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) to ask people to cross the street using traffic lights and to be aware road conditions.

"The barriers [and] the lines offer no protection to you," said Sgt. Ralph Pauw of Vancouver Police Department's traffic section.

"Be safe, be seen [and] wear bright clothing," he said. "One of the most important things is to make eye contact with the driver to make sure he sees you."

Safety teams were out on the streets Friday handing out bright, reflective badges, and trying to get the message out.

ICBC is offering a few driving tips when the clocks are turned back to standard time, which takes effect on Sunday:

* Be extra vigilant as reduced light conditions can make it more difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

* Use your headlights at all times to ensure you are visible to pedestrians and other vehicles.

* To avoid being blinded by the headlights of an approaching vehicle, look toward the right side of your lane until the approaching car passes.

Last year, 40 pedestrians were killed in the Lower Mainland and 1,800 people were injured, police figures show.

Pauw said pedestrians are competing with a wide range of distractions for drivers.

"IPods and cellphones and even televisions in the front seat of vehicles … none of these things are improving safety out there," he said.

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jordan

at 10:49 on November 3rd, 2007

I prefer to think of them as slalom cones...

jordan

at 10:54 on November 3rd, 2007

(Every now and then I ride up to UBC to practice basic low-speed motorcycle safety skills: when executing a turn -stopping appropriately and signaling- I know in advance that a pedestrian* will walk out into my path without looking. It's a predicably unpredictable situation. UBC students: be advised that you are all my guinea pigs; it's nothing personal, it's just your collective behavior is really easy to predict)

* student or visitor: the campus casts a strange spell on people, making it apparently impossible to turn their heads right or left

But yeah, the police should roll up to UBC, rack up some tickets, and go back to dealing with some of the city's larger issues...

ScienceDave

at 14:18 on November 3rd, 2007

As a UBCer, I've noticed that it isn't simply "Pedestrians rule all" but rather, "Get out of my way! I OWN this campus - I don't move for nothin' or no body!"

I guess when one becomes a UBC student - they lose all their parent's advice, "Look left, right, then left again - pay attention to things going on around you"

Barry Artiste

at 13:27 on November 3rd, 2007

Thanks for the validation guys, especially with all the construction vehicles about backing up, I have seen students casually walk between the safety person and the truck. But mark my words someone will get either hurt or killed, and all of a sudden the Student Union will gasp and squeal like pigs to the slaughter and proclaim "How could this happen"? And then the UBC Campus will be descended upon by umpteen busloads of Grief Counsellors to soothe the ignornant small minded hordes.

Vinny

at 16:20 on November 3rd, 2007

good stuff:

Barry Artiste, Here in the UK I can cross the road where I like.

In the UK no one would bat an eyelid. In Atlanta, you could be wrestled to the ground.

It is a cautionary tale for any traveller - distinguished historian Felipe Fernandez-Armesto tried to cross the road while in Atlanta for the conference of the American Historical Association, only to find himself in handcuffs and surrounded by armed police.

"I come from a country where you can cross the road where you like," said the visiting professor of global environmental history at Queen Mary College, University of London. "It hadn't occurred to me that I wasn't allowed to cross the road between the two main conference venues." Source: BBC