A ghastly sight to behold, it has taken millions of lives every year and has left many with lifelong injuries. Car accidents, which are majorly seen as one of the biggest causes behind human death, are said to be greater in developing/third world countries, but they are now even spreading across first world countries.
Toronto is a bustling city and it’s one of the most populated cities in Canada, it’s a city that is developing at an accelerated rate. 2013 was seen as the year with the highest number of fatalities due to road rage. Congestion and pollution are just some of the problems this city is facing besides road accidents.
Did You Know?
The year 2018 has been recorded as the year with the greatest number of road accidents in Toronto. In the year 2019 around 30 pedestrians were killed due to road rage. Accidents, specifically car accidents are increasing day by day in Toronto, it has become a major issue as it is taking many lives away.
The area which is prone to the greatest number of accidents is Highway 401(Ontario) between Windsor and London. Around every year Toronto witnesses 38,000 accidents. Due to the frequent number of accidents, Highway 401 is labeled as ‘Carnage Valley’.
The number of serious injuries has declined but the number of deaths and fatalities has increased greatly. Scarborough is known as the magnet of road accidents, the intersections in Scarborough have seen some of the most horrific accidents. The intersections have made many drivers cautious due to their confusing turnings and busy streets.
Lakeshore and Lower Jarvis St.
Has the highest collision rate in the city. 239 Collisions have been reported. They have the highest volume of traffic along with busy streets which are always filled with pedestrians.
Sheppard Ave. at Morningside Rd.
It’s on Toronto’s most dangerous road list. It is also located in Scarborough.
Weston Rd. at Lawrence Ave.
It’s a super busy street and has a weirdly angled intersection and the turn drives you right into traffic which makes it quite hazardous. One needs to be careful while taking turns. Its design has been questioned many times.
Ellesmere Rd. at Morningside Rd.
It’s said to be a site that has had numerous accidents and the site is always busy.
Islington Ave. at Albion Rd.
It’s the dangerous intersection that makes this street prone to some of the most fatal accidents.
Lake Shore Blvd. W. at Spadina Ave.
It is below the Gardiner, which is an awkward commuter nexus. Weird turning, One-way roads, busy streets, and off-ramps make it a confusing zone for many drivers. One has to be alert while driving across this street.
Lawrence Ave. E. at Midland Ave.
It is said to be one of the most dangerous intersections in Toronto, Ontario. Vehicle drivers become cautious when using this intersection.
St. Clair Ave. at Old Weston Rd.
There is not any one reason which makes it so fatal, rather there are multiple reasons.
Firstly, the traffic flowing to and from Weston Flea market adds a touch of rage, it’s also the streetcar thoroughfare that is always super busy. One needs to be mindful when driving through this intersection.
Ellesmere Rd. at Bellamy Rd
It is an accident-prone zone as 3 plazas are exiting into the intersection. Also, a transitional road takes traffic into a busy intersection.
Lake Shore Blvd. E. at Lower Jarvis St.
This is one of the most confusing intersections for many motorists and is a hotspot for road accidents.
Lake Shore Blvd. E. at Don Roadway
During rush hour it becomes super chaotic and it turns into a sensitive zone as traffic is at its peak.
These are some of the other intersections which are also prone to fatal road accidents:
One of the major reasons behind the road accidents happening in Toronto is due to intersections.
These are the areas that have witnessed some of the most devastating collisions, mainly rear-end collisions between two vehicles which have taken away numerous lives. Scarborough’s 42 division has seen some of the most fatal collisions.
Huge Vehicles
People owning huge vehicles like trucks and trailers become more prone to accidents. The collision of huge vehicles becomes an expensive affair as many lives are lost and even the vehicles are damaged which can incur huge costs.
Speed
As rightly said ‘Speed is a knife that can cut a life’, speed is said to be the number one killer in case of the accidents taking place in Toronto, specifically on Highways.
On highways, people are driving at the speed of 100km/hr and many try to jump lanes without signaling, this has resulted in horrifying accidents where pedestrians crossing the road have been killed on the spot.
Road Environment
The driver should be aware of the rules and regulations and should diligently follow the rules. There is an increase in distracted driving deaths as well.
Toronto has struggled to implement road safety regulations and the effects can be seen. Many drivers tend to ignore the rule as they go unnoticed when they fail to follow the regulations. Driving conditions at night are worse, as many tend to drink and drive.
Traffic
Traffic has been growing year after year in Toronto, it has become an inescapable part of our lives. Toronto has many hotspots which are always full of traffic, such hotspots become accident targets. Traffic intersections have become the most dangerous spots for traffic accidents.
Many people driving in an unruly manner in areas filled with traffic tend to become victims of fatal accidents, they not only put themselves in danger but they are also putting other lives in danger. Many also tend to drive in a way that becomes a hazard to other vehicles and their drivers.
Traffic Intersections
Traffic intersections are said to be leading the list in the case of road accidents in Toronto. It’s the pedestrians who are in danger. Either the traffic intersection needs to be continuously supervised and monitored by traffic personnel or they need to be designed in a manner that would reduce road accidents.
The Yonge and Dundas Intersection in Toronto is said to be two of the busiest traffic intersections and is prone to the most fatal accidents.
A lot of the accidents that take place on the road in Toronto have cyclists as the victims. Cyclists are many times not looked at or ignored by big vehicle owners or the cyclists are unaware of the rules and regulations and end up violating the rules, hence they fall in trouble as they become the victims of such fatalities. Cyclists using busy roads also have fallen victims to violent road accidents, mainly on signals.
Unlike other cars and their drivers, cyclists and pedestrians top the list when it comes to accident fatalities. Cyclists driving on their respective paths also tend to be run over by big vehicles like trucks and trailers.
The perplexing road designs of many intersections on various streets in Toronto are quite confusing and misleading. Car drivers get confused and have many times rammed their cars in the intersections which has led to an increase in the death toll. The bridges constructed over the roads have increased traffic instead of slowing it down. The road designs have not only confused car drivers but pedestrians as well. There have also been several road traffic amendments that have been implemented but they have hardly brought in any drastic change. Many experts have stated that changing the road designs along with the intersections can bring about a positive change and the number of car accidents would also decrease.
Conclusion
Man-made machines and inventions have truly changed the world and with a click of a button, we can perform many functions but do machines possess a danger to us is the real question. Technology is a boon but at the same time, we could almost classify it as a bane as well. Even as the world moves towards a human-friendly lifestyle, we are forgetting the dangers that technology can do to us.
Not only Toronto but any other bustling city today has become a victim of horrifying car accidents. Workshops spreading awareness can be implemented to reach out to people on the notion of road safety.
It’s very important to note that every driver or pedestrian knows and follows the road safety regulations and rules. This can reduce accidents to a great extent as each life is precious.
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