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Toronto’s Most Dangerous Intersections for Accidents
Over the last few years, as pandemic restrictions in Toronto have eased and the pace of life began returning to normal, residents of the city and commuters noticed the return of something else: traffic congestion. It is clear that traffic congestion has increased significantly in recent months. With traffic in the GTA at an all-time high, frustrated commuters are desperate for alternative, reliable methods of getting around town.
Cycling and walking are great ways to get around the city, but they can also be dangerous. Dozens of pedestrians and cyclists are injured by negligent drivers each year, and many lose their lives in senseless traffic accidents.
In order to eliminate traffic fatalities throughout the GTA, the municipal government launched its Vision Zero Road Safety Plan in 2016. To date, it has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into the initiative to pay for services like:
- Automated speed enforcement cameras
- Dedicated bike lanes
- Advanced walk signals for pedestrians
- Traffic calming initiatives (speed bumps, raised crosswalks, etc.)
- Signage warning drivers to slow down
- Additional signalized crosswalks
- And more
Although the annual number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths have inched down over the last few years, many critics of the city’s rollout of the Vision Zero plan attribute this lower number of fatalities to reduced traffic volumes throughout the pandemic. Despite the city’s efforts, pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and injuries remain a significant issue in Toronto. Unfortunately, the streets of Toronto can still be treacherous for vulnerable road-users. And some parts of the city are far more dangerous than others.
Map of High-Risk Areas in the GTA
Road safety is a major concern for many Torontonians. Throughout the GTA, every neighbourhood has problematic areas that pose threats to pedestrians and cyclists. For many reasons, including outdated infrastructure, lack of safety measures, and features of the natural landscape, certain parts of the city are more dangerous than others.
With a goal of finding solutions to a rising and fatal problem, CBC Toronto launched a Safer Streets series in which they asked the city’s residents to provide them with a list of Toronto’s most dangerous intersections. Feedback from readers was compiled into an interactive map that shows just how widespread the public concern is and how many intersections feel unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists.
Although vulnerable road-users may feel like they are at risk of being injured or fatally wounded in collisions throughout the entire GTA, statistically speaking, the suburbs of Toronto have the least safe intersections for pedestrians and cyclists. In parts of the city like Scarborough or Etobicoke, pedestrians are often required to navigate multiple lanes of traffic to simply cross the road. Signalized crossings on many major streets are few and far between. Due to this lack of safety infrastructure, these neighbourhoods see higher rates of jaywalking, leading to more frequent accidents.
That said, most collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists happen at intersections and signalized crossings. Negligent drivers who are not paying close attention to the driving conditions or road features around them run the risk of striking other road-users who are lawfully following their traffic signals. Pedestrians and cyclists navigating these high-risk intersections can suddenly find themselves in the hospital with serious injuries because of a driver’s inattention and carelessness.
Which Intersections Pose the Greatest Risks?
Multi-stage crosswalks, steep hills, abrupt cessations of bicycle lanes, and poor visibility are all factors that contribute to the vulnerability of cyclists and pedestrians at high-risk intersections. Oftentimes, speed, driver distraction, failure to obey traffic signals, and other forms of driver negligence combine with these potentially dangerous road features, leading to fatal or injurious collisions with fellow Torontonians.
According to data compiled from multiple sources, throughout the GTA, some of the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians and cyclists include:
- Spadina Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard West
- Dundas Street West and Dupont/Annette Streets
- Davenport Road and Dufferin Street
- Markham Road and Tuxedo Court
- Midland Avenue and Sheppard Avenue
- Jane Street and Finch Avenue West
- And more
Without the built-in safety features on which motor vehicle occupants can rely in the event of a collision, pedestrians and cyclists who have been struck by negligent drivers frequently lose their lives or sustain life-changing injuries. All drivers are responsible for operating their vehicles with a reasonable degree of caution, so as to reduce the risk of severe accidents.
Contact Our Toronto Accident Lawyers For a Free Initial Consultation
Confusing intersections, low visibility, and outdated infrastructures do not excuse negligent driving. Indeed, drivers approaching these dangerous intersections should exercise even greater caution to ensure the safety of other community members.
If you were struck by a negligent driver while crossing the street at an intersection or have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact our law firm today for a free initial consultation with our personal injury team if you or a loved one require legal assistance after an accident.
