ON THE ROAD: Fine facing those who start crossing the street when countdown begins

Fergie Reynolds

February 4, 2010

Q: I am a bit confused when crossing the street. When am I not permitted to walk across, when the red hand signal is flashing or when the timer counts down to zero?

A: Over the past few years, the City of Toronto and most of the surrounding regional municipalities have been busy replacing the standard pedestrian crossing signals, located at intersections controlled by traffic lights signals, with a new visual countdown timer added to the basic white walking figure that tells pedestrians when it is lawful to cross, and the flashing red hand figure telling pedestrians to wait and not begin to cross the road.

The thinking behind this newer design of pedestrian signal, which I first saw in Europe about 10 years ago, was to give pedestrians intending to cross a particular roadway, greater awareness of their surroundings.

As the red hand begins to flash on the pedestrian signal, a timer located directly above the flashing hand begins to count down from a pre-set time, usually anywhere from eight to nine seconds at smaller intersections to upward of 20 seconds at much larger ones.

Once the time hits zero, the main traffic signal changes from green to amber for vehicles about to enter the intersection and the red hand signal becomes a solid red display. So the question becomes, when is it illegal for a pedestrian to enter the roadway?

As the timer begins and the hand begins to flash or once the time counts down to zero?

We find the answer in Section 144 (27) of the highway traffic act, which states: "No pedestrian approaching pedestrian control signals and facing a solid or flashing "don't walk" indication shall enter the roadway".

Once the "don't walk" signal appears (as a red flashing hand) the countdown timer begins to tick away in seconds.

According to the law, once that timer begins, it is now illegal to begin crossing the roadway.

So what is the purpose of the timer?

Many pedestrians erroneously think the timer is merely a guide to let them know how much time they have left to cross.

If the trip across the roadway began on a legal walk signal, this thought is true and the timer gives the pedestrian an idea of how many seconds are remaining before the main traffic signal changes from green to amber.

Greater awareness of their surrounding.

Unfortunately many pedestrians look at the seconds counting down then quickly try to decide if they can safely make it to the other side even if they have not yet left the opposite sidewalk. A bad mistake, and one that could result in a $150 fine under the Traffic Act for disobeying a pedestrian signal.

During the month of January there were an alarming number of pedestrians struck by motor vehicles in the city and GTA. Some of these collisions have resulted in tragic deaths and all were preventable.

Using the roadway is a shared responsibility between drivers, cyclists and pedestrians with each group required to obey the traffic laws.

No exceptions.

During my patrol days I would often hear pedestrians comment they have the right of way. In some instances that's true.

Unfortunately, in some cases the result became one of being "dead right'.

Cross the road as if your life depends on it, because it really does.