Road safety reminder

Surrey RCMP is reminding the public to be vigilant on our roads following three recent serious collisions, two of which tragically involved pedestrian fatalities.

In just under 48 hours, Surrey RCMP responded to three serious motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians. Two people died, and a third person is currently in the hospital in critical condition, with life-threatening injuries.

At this time of year road conditions can be challenging for all road users. Low light conditions combined with fog and rainfall creates poor visibility for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Surrey RCMP is urging all drivers to slow down and drive appropriately for current conditions, and is reminding pedestrians to increase their visibility by wearing bright colours or reflective materials.

More tips for improving pedestrian road safety include:

• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Do not assume a driver has seen you. • Always use a crosswalk. • Walk on the inside edge of the sidewalk so you are further away from traffic. • If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles. • Make sure you can hear and see oncoming cars. Remove your headphones and your hood when crossing the street. • Always look for signs that a vehicle is about to move (rear lights, exhaust smoke, sound of motor, wheels turning).

Drivers can improve road safety by including these practices:

• Vehicles should have their lights on to increase visibility, regardless of the time of day.

• When approaching an intersection always scan right and left for pedestrians before continuing through.