Surrey RCMP and the Insurance Incorporation of British Columbia are reminding drivers — and pedestrians — of the importance of paying attention on the road.
With several collisions that have injured or killed pedestrians in Surrey and its neighbouring municipalities in recent weeks, both RCMP and ICBC noted pedestrian crashes typically increase at this time of year.
“Pedestrian crashes increase dramatically in the fall and winter months, as visibility and weather conditions worsen,” said Karen Klein, local ICBC road safety and community coordinator.
“You can only see pedestrians if you look for them. Focus on the road, look for pedestrians at intersections and be ready to stop for them.”
By October of 2023, there had already been six pedestrian deaths in Surrey; there were a total of 489 pedestrian-involved collisions in Surrey in 2023. Only Vancouver had higher totals each year, with the five year average working out to 2,116 for Surrey and 3,718 for Vancouver.
ICBC statistics show in B.C., on average, 53 pedestrians are killed and more than 2,300 injured in crashes each year.
In the Lower Mainland, 1,434 pedestrians are injured in 2,029 crashes every year, on average, with a five-year average of 33 fatalities per year.
"As police, we tend to see a rise in the number of collisions in November. Some of the contributing factors are the changing daylight hours and the change in weather patterns," Surrey RCMP Sgt. Tammy Lobb said.
"Poor decisions and the lack of attention leads to collisions, so whether you're a motorist or a pedestrian, you each have a responsibility in keeping our roads safe."
Surrey's most recent pedestrian-involved crash happened just last Thursday, Nov. 7, when a 66-year-old man was killed. Police said in a release that investigators believe he was hit by a vehicle driving southbound on 176 Street in the area of 26 Avenue. The suspect vehicle did not stay on scene after the incident, police noted.
Anyone who was in the area and witnessed the fatal hit-and-run or has dash camera footage (between 4:50 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. Nov. 7) is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
The Nov. 7 crash is the latest in a series of collisions that have injured or killed pedestrians on roads in Surrey and surrounding municipalities in recent days. Among them:
• Nov. 4: A pedestrian was taken to hospital in critical condition after being struck by a dump truck in Aldergrove, at Fraser Highway and 264 Street.
• Nov. 1: A person was hospitalized in critical condition after being struck by a pickup truck when they were attempting to cross the road in Whalley, in the 8800 block of 144 Street.
• Oct. 31: Ridge Meadows RCMP issue a news release warning people to be cautious after three motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists: a fatal pedestrian collision on Oct. 25; a collision that injured a pedestrian on Oct. 30, and a cyclist struck by a vehicle on Oct. 30.
• Oct. 28: A pedestrian was hospitalized with serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Surrey, in the area of 188 Street and 60 Avenue.
• Oct. 27: A pedestrian died in a collision with a transit bus in the 7600-block of 128 Street in Surrey.
• Oct. 7: A 60-year-old woman died after being hit by a pickup truck in Abbotsford.
• Oct. 5: A pedestrian was injured and another killed after a vehicle struck a bus stop bench near 144 Street and Hyland Road in Surrey.
– with files from Black Press Media staff
