New plea for road safety emerges after crossing guard becomes latest person hit by vehicle

At the intersection of Papineau Avenue and Prieur Road in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, a crossing guard was struck by a vehicle Tuesday afternoon. She was transported to hospital, and suffered minor injuries.

But others haven’t been as fortunate, like 7-year-old Mariia Legenkovska was killed after being struck by a motorist in December on her way to school in Montreal.

Many are calling on all levels of government to step up pedestrian safety – especially in school zones.

“We know why it’s not safe. It’s because of speed. It’s because of too many cars on the roads and too many cars on roads that are not meant to have that many cars at that speed,” explained Marie-Soleil Cloutier, director at the Pedestrians and Urban Space Research Lab.

Ten pedestrians have died on Quebec’s roads since the beginning of December 2022. And 347 people total in 2021, according to the SAAQ.

On the job for 20 years, Fernand Desmarchais is saddened that his co-worker was struck – now taking her place, it’s his second day at the intersection of Papineau and Prieur.

“They transferred me here for the moment because there’s missing workers. Here it’s a code 1, its priority, it takes a crossing guard or an officer here,” said Fernand Desmarchais, Montreal crossing guard.

Fernand Desmarchais, co-worker of crossing guard hit by a vehicle. (Photo Credit: Pamela Pagano, CityNews)

Accidents involving pedestrians, are preventable with proper urban planning and interventions, experts say.

“I’m not here for the vehicles, I’m here for the children, priority, and for those who are blind, or handicapped. We are here for that,” said Desmarchais.

Organizations are asking for a strategy that puts in place many actions like; a revision of the Highway Safety Code, and of road network development standards.

“We’re asking the government of Quebec to take responsibility for road safety,” said Sandrine Cabana-Degani, director of Piétons Québec. “I would call all drives behind the wheel to just be very cautious at intersections and on the road where there’s a lot of pedestrians.”

Earlier this week, the city of Montreal announced it’s working to secure zones around 50 schools and daycare centres, as well as two parks over the course of this year. All are part of their safe routes to school program.

A student and Fernand Desmarchais, co-worker of crossing guard hit by a vehicle. (Photo Credit: Pamela Pagano, CityNews)

Collectif: Apaisement for Sainte-Marie met with Sophie Mauzerolle, City Councilor for the district de Sainte-Marie and responsible for transportation and mobility on the executive committee, on Thursday to talk more on pedestrian safety.

“In road safety, we know that what works is the three E’s we call them engineering measures, education measures and enforcement measures,” explained Cloutier.

This includes, how roads are built, ensuring that people behave properly on the road, and reducing speed limits.

“Adding speed bumps, reducing the place we give to cars and those streets so that people will change their risk perception and that will change their behavior.”

On January 24, community groups are planning protests in front of schools across the province and they asking parents and students to join them.