A significant safety enhancement has arrived in Winnipeg’s downtown core. Starting today, pedestrians will experience a safer crossing thanks to the implementation of Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) at nearly 100 intersections.
The new system gives pedestrians a crucial five-second head start when crossing the street, allowing them to establish themselves in the intersection before vehicles receive a green light. This simple change is designed to increase pedestrian visibility and drastically reduce the risk of collisions.
“Early results speak for themselves – a 13 percent pedestrian crash reduction and a 35 percent reduction of near-miss events,” stated Janice Lukes, Chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works (SPC-PW). These impressive statistics highlight the effectiveness of LPIs in improving pedestrian safety.
The implementation of LPIs does not involve any changes to the existing traffic signals or visual cues. The only alteration is the timing of the “walk” signal, which will now activate five seconds before the corresponding green light for vehicles.
This initiative is a direct result of the Council-approved Road Safety Strategic Action Plan, and its rollout is supported by the city’s now fully staffed road safety branch. Lukes expressed her satisfaction with the progress, saying, “I’m very pleased to see our road safety branch up and running, and taking action on making our roads safer. I look forward to seeing LPI continue to be installed and make these improvements elsewhere.”
City officials are reminding drivers to remain vigilant and pay close attention to traffic signals. Special attention is needed when making right turns on red, as pedestrians with a walk signal always have the right-of-way. At LPI intersections, this right-of-way is granted earlier, while the light for drivers remains red.
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