Lethbridge police and Alberta Sheriffs focus on pedestrian safety in new project

Lethbridge police and Alberta Sheriffs are teaming up for a special traffic project to help pedestrians stay safe.

The targeted enforcement project is focusing on schools and playgrounds.

Police say they’ve noticed “increased issues” with pedestrian safety as of late, saying both poor driver behaviour and pedestrian practices are to blame.

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“Inattentiveness is probably the largest contributor to pedestrian accidents,” said Sgt. Danny Lomness.

“We’ve observed pedestrians, especially students, not being fully aware of their surroundings before crossing streets and not noticing oncoming vehicles, even in designated crosswalks.”

Lomness says drivers are also not being as vigilant as they should be.

“Speeding, distracted driving, blocking crosswalks and parking too closely to intersections are all prevalent problems in these areas, leading to unsafe conditions for children and other pedestrians.”

Police say the goal of the project is to educate pedestrians, particularly students and their guardians, about safe crosswalk practices, as well as enforcement to deter unsafe driving.

The project will run through the rest of March.

“Anything the city and LPS can do to create awareness about pedestrian safety and also driver safety, we are super grateful for,” Wong said.

Lomness said they hope to help the students be safer.

“We want to teach people – and especially teach younger people – to cross correctly so hopefully it transitions all throughout their life and then they can teach their kids and their friends as well.

In 2024, there was one fatal pedestrian collision in Lethbridge.