Calgary's Crosswalk Crisis: Drivers vs. Pedestrians

Aggressive driving habits are putting pedestrian safety in Calgary under a renewed spotlight, highlighted by a recent incident where a motorist disregarded a pedestrian at a blinking crosswalk. This act of impatience, occurring at a marked crosswalk with traffic moving under 40 km/h, saw the driver narrowly swerve around the pedestrian, underscoring a persistent issue on city streets.

Such incidents are prompting calls for enhanced safety measures, including potential vehicle height restrictions and mandatory annual driving tests. These suggestions aim to address the root causes of dangerous driving behaviours and better protect vulnerable road users.

Calgary has actively been working to improve road safety, notably through its adoption of the Vision Zero strategy in 2019, a global movement committed to eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. This commitment is further articulated in the city's Safer Mobility Plan 2024-2028, a unified effort with the Calgary Police Service aimed at reducing major injuries and fatalities on roadways by 25 percent over five years. As part of this plan, the city is also exploring innovative solutions, including the use of artificial intelligence to predict high-risk crosswalks and intersections before collisions occur.

With Calgary's population experiencing significant growth, ensuring pedestrian protection and fostering a respectful, shared road culture remains paramount. The ongoing efforts by the City and Calgary Police Service, including public awareness campaigns like 'Join the Drive to Zero' launched in September 2025, emphasize that road safety is a shared responsibility for all Calgarians.