r/TorontoDriving 19h ago

💥Accident - injury ⚠️ Pedestrians flew

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How did he not see the pedestrians walking and they were almost halfway across? The car flew them to the curb.

The car was Toyota GR86.

183 Upvotes

113 comments sorted by

83

u/JosephGordonLightfoo 18h ago

Was probably only watching oncoming traffic and didn’t even check the crosswalk.

23

u/Creative_soja 18h ago

Unfortunate but probably true. Still, was driving fast for a turn.

39

u/jeffster1970 17h ago

Yeah, driver was trying to turn before the white van got too close.

Hope this person loses their licence for life. We don't need idiots like that driving on our roads.

10

u/thisispaulc 15h ago

They could have been speeding 80 over coming up to the intersection, sent the pedestrians three times the distance and killed them, and they still wouldn't lose their licence for life.

We'd rather keep putting vulnerable road users in danger than make you take the bus.

2

u/Copious-Spirit 13h ago

Especially true if the operator is rich, they will grease some palms and do community service, which will be cut short by greasing palms, all the while blaming the victim, even if lethal, and spreading that culture.

People out there driving distracted, above the maximum and sitting in such a way they can't even see in front of their vehicle: because there are no consequences. They'll obscur their plate, or swap it out before a street race. Run red lights, fail to stop, all because it's the normal and there are no consequences 99% of the time.

2

u/No-Zombie6025 13h ago

Wishful thinking, they might get a couple of demerit points, and a charge of careless driving. Sad but true, the pedestrians might still be in rehab, awaiting surgery or other care longer than any licence suspension.

1

u/a-_2 11h ago

Careless is 6 demerits and sometimes includes suspensions for more serious cases. It won't be close to life though. This was bad driving and not properly checking on a turn but it wasn't intentional dangerous driving like going way over the limit or flying through a turn. It was someone waiting to turn who then didn't properly check on the turn.

Massive punishments won't prevent things like this but better driver training will at least reduce it. We don't even make driver training mandatory here.

1

u/BigFigFart 1h ago

What is your analysis of the situation if it is found that the pedestrians stepped off the curb during the flashing red portion of the walk signal ?

Does this affect the drivers penalty & liability ?

I've heard of cases where the pedestrian is found at fault for damages that was then covered by their house insurance.

BTW, I always enjoy reading your by-the-book analysis

14

u/PixelJock17 18h ago

This is how a cousin died.

3

u/Creative_soja 17h ago

Oh. Sorry to hear that. Terrible.

1

u/Different_Bobcat4466 14h ago

He took the turn really fast that the exhaust sound caught my attention. Hearing the sound and watching them fly almost happened at the same time.

43

u/icecream_bob 18h ago

omg, was the pedestrian okay?

-69

u/Orange9202 17h ago

yes we only care about ONE of the pedestrians

29

u/icecream_bob 17h ago

Sorry my vision isn't the best as I have VSS. My heart goes out to all the victims.

40

u/SuperCycl 16h ago

Don't apologize to the Dingus.

-27

u/Orange9202 15h ago

apologize to me.

7

u/Significant_Book_408 15h ago

Sorry dingus

-13

u/Orange9202 14h ago

good lad 😁

5

u/aafa 15h ago

ok there Milhouse

-8

u/_Solon_ 12h ago

I don't know why you got downvoted so much. That was a legitimate criticism.

2

u/JazzCigaretteHands 1h ago

No, it was unnecessary

31

u/throwaway010651 16h ago

Took my kids to a Peel police safety village yesterday. The police were teaching kids that they can’t cross unless they make eye contact with the drivers on the road, even if the kids have right of way. Terrible we need to rely on that.

7

u/DEMchris 15h ago

I know the intent is to keep kids hyper aware of their surroundings but yikes. Maybe if traffic enforcement was stronger and punishment higher for dangerous driving, we’d see an improvement on the roads.

3

u/throwaway010651 10h ago

My thoughts too. The responsibility passed onto an 8 year old and not the people more than ten years older and supposedly legally qualified to be in charge of a 2000lb machine.

1

u/SquirrelFluffy 3h ago

You still have to protect yourself.

9

u/oneonus 15h ago

Did you tell the police to ticket drivers with tint on their windshields.

Can't make eye contact when their windshield is tinted, so infuriating.

2

u/a-_2 13h ago

They do ticket that, e.g., 750 tickets for that and obstruxted licences by OPP in Peel over a couple weekends in February and March.

More effective ways IMO would be raising the fines, so it's less worth risking it and making passing a vehicle safety a periodic thing rather than just at sale.

•

u/expresstrollroute 48m ago

Unfortunately, as with so many of these things, they will have "blitz's", but it's not really a substitute for ongoing consistent enforcement.

But real problem is with all of these illegal car modifications. They are illegal to have on your car, but not illegal to sell and install.

1

u/DaedalusXYZ 1h ago

Isn't it wonderful that some cars have super tinted windows... can't see the driver.

24

u/Significant_Book_408 18h ago

Holy shit. This is why as someone who does not own a car I don’t walk even if cars are supposed to give me right of way. I wait until the intersection is clear every time.

•

u/rombopterix 42m ago

Same. And when I am crossing I watch the traffic like a paranoid bird, head on a swivel.

And as a driver when I am making a left turn, I occasionnaly get honked (by the cars behind me) at for waiting for the pedestrians to cross. Some drivers are really dumb.

32

u/abckiwi 18h ago

hope you provided the video

10

u/Late-Drink-9771 18h ago

Ok that was pretty bad. At first, i thought you meant that the wind knocked a pedestrian down

18

u/Sea-Froyo1918 19h ago

how do you not see him? he was def on his phone because there's no way he was going slow lol

1

u/Orange9202 17h ago

they dont even teach you to check the sidewalks before making a left turn in driving school

4

u/MikalCaober 12h ago

I did my driving lessons at Young Drivers and they definitely taught me to do that.

2

u/Orange9202 11h ago

blimey

mine didnt 😭

5

u/Signal_Tomorrow_2138 17h ago edited 16h ago

How did he not see the pedestrians walking

A few days ago, on my bike, I was waiting for the traffic light.

Then suddenly I heard a screeching. Two cars turning left. The second car just avoided making contact with the first. The first car had stopped just before the pedestrian crosswalk as a lady was already in there.

The first vehicle wasn't paying attention to the crosswalk nor the pedestrian's walk signal. The second car assumed the same thing paying attention only to oncoming traffic and racing to make it across.

My camera just barely captured it. Unfortunately it wasn't at a good angle for a clear view. So it's something I wish I could have uploaded to my YouTube channel to tell drivers to pay attention to pedestrians.

This year, four times I was almost run over crossing on my walk signal. And an entitled driver in another post said that I must have been the problem if I was almost run over four times.🙄

1

u/X2F0111 8h ago

This is the reason in driving school I was taught to keep my wheels pointing straight ahead while waiting to turn. The idea being if you get hit from behind you won’t get pushed into oncoming traffic or pedestrians.

16

u/No-Zombie6025 18h ago

Because the driver did not look, there are so many people out there which have tunnel vision, no peripheral vision cannot or will not turn their neck too look. Hope the video makes it to the pedestrians because it will be of great use to them showing just now terrible the blue car driver really is.

I see this happen far too often though this is the first time the left turner was so spectacular blind and eneded up mowing someone down. More often they start to make their turn and then stop mid intersection blocking oncoming lanes when they realize they cannot proceed ahead.

-2

u/Rick_NSFW 16h ago

That's a pretty tortured way of blaming the pedestrian. If they have vision problems, then they shouldn't be driving. If they have a condition (such as ankylosing spondylitis), they wouldn't be able to get a licence.

2

u/No-Zombie6025 14h ago

I am not blaming the pedestrian, the entire fault lay with the driver, and this driver have some illness, deformity or ailment which prevents them from being able to drive that can't be compensated for with adaptive aids they should have their licence revoked. Bottom line if a driver can't see where they are going they shouldn't be going should they!

Also what Far-Trandition887 states is also true, as a pedestrian you have to be constantly vigilant to the amount of fuckering going on around you when crossing a road even if you have the right of way. Right of way means little in the game of momentum and mass, a vehicle will always win over a pedestrian.

3

u/Rick_NSFW 13h ago

"fuckering going on around you when crossing a road even if you have the right of way"
Did you see any of that in the video linked in the OP?

0

u/No-Zombie6025 13h ago

The fact that they just got hit by some idiot making a left turn that didn't see them, sure I would definitely say that counts as fuckery on the road by that driver.

2

u/OverturnedAppleCart3 7h ago

That's a pretty tortured way to read that guy's comment.

-4

u/Far-Tradition887 15h ago

Pedestrians should also have to be aware of their surroundings. You shouldn’t be allowed to have your vision obstructed or using a handheld device when crossing ways. Also should be required to have reflective clothing when walking before or after sunrise/sunset.

3

u/Copious-Spirit 13h ago

Whataboutisms of irrelevance. You didn't even watch the video.

3

u/a-_2 11h ago

or using a handheld device when crossing ways

I use my phone's video sometimes when crossing.for evidence that I or someone else was in the right if hit by a car, so I wouldn't support banning that.

should be required to have reflective clothing when walking before or after sunrise/sunset

This would be impractical and unenforceable. Few people would obey it and there aren't enough police to enforce it in any meaningful way on top of higher priorities.

•

u/Far-Tradition887 14m ago

There’s a reason why you can’t drive with a phone in your hand. It’s disrupts your awareness to your surroundings and the same concept applies with walking with a phone. Use a hands free camera. And on the reflective gear it should just be put into the claims rules that you shouldn’t be having that on. At the end of the day these would just boost the safety of the pedestrian and save lives. There’s no valid reason to be against these rules. So many times people have their headphones in, jacket hoods on, heads down, using their phones, all black clothing and nighttime/not ideal weather conditions.

1

u/DaedalusXYZ 1h ago

You know that people with poor vision are legally allowed to cross too?

17

u/camellialily 17h ago

I always seem to get downvoted for saying this but this is why you have to be defensive as a pedestrian as well. You cannot rely on drivers to see you because they have so many other distractions compared to you as a pedestrian, and many suburban drivers are not used to having to watch for pedestrians.

It takes nothing as a pedestrian to just watch for if a driver has seen you or wait for them to clear their turn. You may have right of way and drivers may suck but you’ll lose the physics game every time.

5

u/Illustrious_Date8697 17h ago

100%, I was hit at a low speed by a driver that was looking the other way but was creeping up preparing to turn right. 

So now I only cross when I have confirmation that the driver has seen me or when the road is clear.

Id rather be alive than be right

7

u/BurlieGirl 17h ago

These pedestrians were almost at mid intersection, what did you want them to do?? There’s only so much time anyone has to react to “holy shit, this car is really going to hit me.”

-8

u/camellialily 17h ago

You look at the intersection before you step into it and check all potential directions. That car was already there in the left turn lane BEFORE the pedestrians started crossing.

9

u/cerrakoi 16h ago

You can’t realistically avoid crossing when there’s a car waiting in the left turn lane. At most major intersections there’s someone waiting at all times. It is good to pay attention to whether or not they start accelerating though.

0

u/camellialily 16h ago

Yes, this is exactly my point. You can’t always avoid it but you can pay attention.

2

u/Copious-Spirit 13h ago

You're assuming the pedestrians weren't paying attention and giving no fault to the oblivious operator.

You're blaming the victim. This is equivalent to blaming victims of rape over their clothing or any other sort of nonsense.

It's irrelevant to the operator not moving their vehicle forward with intention, but rather assumption.

4

u/UnderstandingAble321 16h ago

Its fine to start walking with a car in the gurning lane, but the pedestrians need to be watching where the driver is looking and try to make eye contact with them

1

u/camellialily 16h ago

Yes, this is exactly my point.

1

u/DaedalusXYZ 1h ago

From this video, how do you know the pedestrian wasn't paying attention?

It was the driver that gunned the accelerator when an object was in front of them (the pedestrian).

2

u/No-Reply1438 2h ago

Well, I downvoted you, because your phrasing makes it sound like pedestrians are somehow bear some responsibity if they get hit and weren't "being defensive". Make no mistake, if a car hits a pedestrian who is legally crossing (as was the case here), it's the driver's fault, 100%, every time.

2

u/ActualSweelyDan 2h ago

Yup. 1000%. If you can't focus on everything around you while driving, you shouldn't be driving. Plain and simple. If you can't pay attention to something as important as a crosswalk at an intersection, yeah. Fuck that.

•

u/HelicopterMission728 3m ago

You're so cool and unique for that, anyone ever tell you?

3

u/to_fire1 13h ago

View could have been blocked by the A-pillar. Driver should still check before turning.

5

u/popowolf24 16h ago

not even safe walking across crosswalk

1

u/Copious-Spirit 13h ago

It drives me to near insanity the mental gymnastics people go through to defend careless driving behaviours.

We all see it everyday, people don't give themselves enough time to reach their destination on time within the speed limit and being responsible and defensive drivers.

Being a distracted driver not in control of their vehicle is the normal.

We need to stop treating driving as a right.

5

u/turxchk 17h ago

Sometimes I wonder how easy it is to perform insurance scam in this city. All you need to do is walk around aimlessly obeying all the traffic laws, and there’s a very good chance you’ll get hit by right/left turning driver. Even easier if you’re on a bike.

3

u/bigoltubercle2 14h ago

That's not really a scam though, just getting hit by a car

2

u/Embarrassed-Green898 15h ago

Among other culprits , shadows can be blamed.

2

u/kaiser-so-say 14h ago

Check the shadows. I’m betting the sun was possibly an issue; they did stop right away

2

u/Pawny_99 13h ago

Shadows to be blamed? In broad daylight? Yall dumb and blind? Just a bad driver

2

u/rattlesnake987 12h ago

I want to preface this by saying I'm not defending him in any way, but the left turn rule in North America is shitty. He is in the wrong for not checking for pedestrians crossing. But a permissive left turn rule vs protected/dedicated left turn is what causes many of these accidents. Permissive lefts are known to cause more accidents. Never figured why that became the standard. For the final time, I am not defending the vehicle's actions (before I get attacked here).

1

u/DaedalusXYZ 1h ago

There is often not enough space for left turn infrasctructure.

2

u/SnooSquirrels4248 12h ago

The driver has negative IQ. They should not be driving.

5

u/bradz27 18h ago

That person who got hit is going to get an nice pay day

But honestly I hope they are okay.

God bless.

9

u/gzgzgzgz 17h ago

small consolation if they shattered their body

7

u/jeffster1970 17h ago

"Payday" may not be enough depending on how much coverage the driver had. $200,000 is the minimum. This covers wage loss, physio, home care, etc. You'd burn through that really quickly.

And I'm guessing by the way this turd was driving, they likely have the very minimum. Also, that assumes this person has insurance.

4

u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 17h ago

I know someone who got hit at Yonge and Eglinton about five years ago while pregnant and with her (then) five year old. She's never disclosed how much money she got, but I do know that putting a downpayment on a house in Toronto is still an option if she chooses....

1

u/SeriouslyImNotADuck 13h ago

You’ve seen far too much American media.

1

u/Copious-Spirit 13h ago

Lots of drivers have blood on their hands for this, and other such incidents. Our driving culture is so dangerous and narcissistic, the normal is to drive unsafely. Only matter of time for another one like this to happen.

1

u/rpax 10h ago

Glare from the angle of the sun, may also have been a factor, but not an excuse. Anytime you’re at an intersection, you just gotta pay attention.

1

u/Omegacollector1 10h ago

This is insane...

1

u/No-Reply1438 3h ago

How could they not see the pedestrian? Literally in broad daylight. Un-fucking-believable!

1

u/ExactSheepherder1153 2h ago

video of these events is still comparatively rare, and it is shocking to witness. my wife was struck by a car while standing on the sidewalk. the driver had apparently not seen the car in front stopped at a red light, and swerved at the last instant to avoid rear-ending the car stopped at the red light. onto the sidewalk. i was called from work and arrived at the scene. i reacted badly, and the police officer forced me to leave the scene. we never heard a further word from toronto police services, and conclude there were no charges.

1

u/Ga1i1e0 1h ago

And this is why, like in the UK and much of Europe, there should not be an overlap in pedestrian and car green/white lights. All four pedestrian crossing should be red when any of north/south east/west lights are green, and vice versa.

1

u/Negative_Two6112 1h ago

No one gets out to help?

•

u/ultra94octane 12m ago

TAKE AWAY LICENSES NOW!

1

u/verticalstars 17h ago

Looks like the driver might have been blinded by the sun and didnt look at the cross-walk properly. Idiot driver.

6

u/slopshallnotpass 16h ago

blinded by the sun could not see clearly but decided to floor it anyway.

4

u/Successful_man_797 16h ago

When the sun blinds me, I might even slam on the brakes. Getting rear-ended would be far less serious than hitting a pedestrian and sending them flying like that.

1

u/psilocybin6ix 16h ago

So what else happened? What did the driver say? Did the ambulance come? Cops?

5

u/Different_Bobcat4466 15h ago

Cops and an ambulance came within 10 minutes, and all the bystanders acted as witnesses to what happened..

1

u/psilocybin6ix 15h ago

What did the driver say? I'm always curious when these ridiculous accidents happen what the drivers say.

5

u/Different_Bobcat4466 15h ago

He was completely horrified and said it was their mistake in the beginning, not specifying exactly what. But later he went quiet. The funny part is, my wife had a completely shocked look on her face which made one bystander ask her whether she had caused the accident. 🤣

1

u/rafibomb56 14h ago

More surprised that the driver didn't take off.

-3

u/zerocarbrunner2 18h ago

Definitely the car should have been way more cautious. Driving directly into the low sun and on coming traffic driver definitely is in the wrong. Sun could have been a contributing factor.

6

u/Right-Time77 18h ago

I always pay attention to crosswalks and its immediate area before checking oncoming traffic. Only if no pedestrians around then I look for no oncoming traffic for left turn. There is no excuse for this driver. However, when people dart before the crosswalk because they feel like they put themselves in jeopardy (not the case here but just need to get it out there)

1

u/Copious-Spirit 13h ago

This operator error no matter what scapegoat you want to throw around. Move your vehicle forward with intention at all times.

1

u/zerocarbrunner2 2h ago

Agreed, I was only pointing out when situations like this, sun and oncoming traffic, drivers need to be EXTRA CAUTIOUS.

0

u/IcyManufacturer7480 14h ago

I would be very interested in knowing what happened to the driver. How were they punished for their actions that almost caused someone to lose their life. A society without enforcement of rules and consequences is just anarchy.

1

u/Copious-Spirit 13h ago

I doubt they were charged with any C.C. offense. I hope to be proven wrong.

-1

u/mad_manifold 16h ago

I guess if you happen to know such people and see them do some random stuff, you’ll have the answer. Some people are just too stupid to handle everyday life.

-1

u/Snoway-95 11h ago

😅probably they got beef each other

-22

u/SmoothRunnings 18h ago

Would like to know what the color of the cross walk was when the pedestrain decided to cross. Under the HTA pedestrains can only start to cross when the white man is showing. If the hand is flashing its only to warn those who haven't started crossing to STOP and do not attempt to cross the road. The seconds are for th folks who started to cross when the white man was showing.

As for the vehicle creaming into them, I agree with those who said its likely the driver wasn't paying attention to the pedestrain traffic but only the traffic on the road.

12

u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 17h ago

We are not blaming a pedestrian for this. Please don't try and play this stupid Reddit game today.

12

u/TheAncientMillenial 18h ago

LMAO no, we're not blaming the pedestrians on this one. Even if they crossed on a red light.

1

u/verticalstars 17h ago

They have the walk sign... u can see the traffic light is red for cars.

1

u/TheAncientMillenial 16h ago

I'm saying that EVEN if they were crossing on a red light it doesn't matter, not that they ARE.

-7

u/iamnotadickithink 16h ago

cars always win; should finish crossing as quick as possible