SGI is reminding folks to stay cautious in their most recent traffic safety spotlight, turning their attention to intersections. around 37 per cent of all accidents happen at intersections, according to statistics from SGI.
Heather Hubic, manager for media relations with SGI, goes into why these seem to create accidents.
"The reality is, is that intersections are just really busy places. A driver can encounter so many different things at an intersection, whether that be pedestrians, motorcyclists, buses, cars, or trucks. There's just a dynamic mix of traffic and people all meeting at the same place when it comes to an intersection. So that's why it's really important that drivers be alert, avoid any distractions, and just give the road their full attention when they are coming upon an intersection."
Hubic says that often these collisions can be caused by failure to yield, driver inattention, road conditions, and more.
Pedestrians and other motorists need to work together to make intersections safe.
"I think it's important for everyone to work together just to make intersections the safest that they can be. Whether you're a pedestrian, you're a motorcyclist, or you're a driver, it's really important that you're alert to your surroundings and paying attention to what's happening on the road and on the sidewalk."
Fines related to intersections can include running a stop sign, failing to yield, disobeying a red light, or failing to yield to a pedestrian, resulting in a $230 ticket and four demerit points for the driver.
Hubic says that as a new mother, she says she's giving out constant reminders to avoid distractions, including the phone.