Latest news with #Miovision
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
New study reveals pedestrians narrowly miss being struck at intersections every day in Canada
Andrew Brennan breaks down a new CAA study highlighting the dangers facing pedestrians and cyclists at intersections in Canada. A new study commissioned by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) uncovered more than 600,000 near-miss incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists at intersections across Canada. The seven-month study, conducted with Miovision, collected data at 20 intersections using 360-degree cameras and artificial intelligence to track near misses that aren't typically recorded by police. 'These aren't just close calls, they are collisions waiting to happen,' said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of government and community relations at CAA South Central Ontario. Near-miss intersection A new study reveals pedestrians and cyclists face high-risk near-misses every day in Canada. (CAA / Miovision) The study found one in every 770 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists experienced a high-risk near-miss. Right-turning vehicles posed the greatest risk, involved in over half of pedestrian and cyclist close calls. Left-turning vehicles were involved in roughly one-third of near-miss incidents. 'The findings are clear, near-misses are not isolated events, they are daily warnings that demand attention,' said Di Felice. CAA estimates that serious near-misses happen multiple times each day at some locations. CAA study Footage that CAA reviewed a showing a near miss between a vehicle and pedestrians in a Canadian city. Uploaded June 18, 2025. (CAA) The study also identified intersection designs that help reduce near-misses, including dedicated left-turn lanes, leading pedestrian intervals that give pedestrians a head start, and advanced green lights for turning vehicles. According to CAA, tracking near misses allows cities to improve safety before collisions happen. The organization is urging municipal and provincial governments to adopt technology-based monitoring and make proactive changes based on this data.
CTV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Study finds ways to improve common Canadian intersections, including major one in west Edmonton
A major Edmonton intersection could use upgrades to improve safety for pedestrians who use it, says a study commissioned by an Alberta organization known for its roadside assistance program. The study done for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), of which the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) is a part, examined 20 intersections across the country, including Edmonton's crossroads at 87 Avenue and 149 Street. It found that the intersections, chosen for the study because they represent common busy intersections found across Canada, see more than one potentially fatal near-miss incident between vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists, and suggests ways to reduce the number of them. Included in the study were intersections in Calgary and Lethbridge. 'These representative intersections reveal a snapshot of just how common serious near misses can be – but also where small changes could make a big difference,' Ian Jack, the CAA's national vice president of public affairs, said in a media release. 'These are not isolated incidents — they're regular reminders of why we need to improve intersection safety across the country.' Video technology used through a partnership with Miovision, a software firm specializing in traffic control, found that one in 770 pedestrians and one in 500 cyclists were involved in near-misses that could cause injury or death. Video sensors continuously monitored the intersections over seven months from August 2024 to February this year. They observed more than seven-million pedestrian and cyclist crossings and collected 616,854 near-miss incidents. Six of the intersections were monitored via video over a three-day period, according to an AMA media release. The study suggests design features that can improve the safety of the intersections, including: Dedicated turn lanes; Walk signals that start ahead of a vehicle green light, and; An advance green light for turning vehicles. Dominic Schamuhn, the AMA's manager of advocacy, told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday while the study focused on just one city intersection, 'there are dozens of intersections just like that one across the city, and dozens more all across the province and across the country.' Schamuhn said the AMA has shared the full report with and given access to data from the study to municipalities. 'What we wanted to do is look at these intersections, take a cross section of them from across the country, but then also look at some of the improvements that can be made, so that municipalities can look at this study, look at their own intersections, and say, 'What is the problem here, and what are some of the options that we can use to improve safety for everyone?'' he said. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Miriam Valdes-Carletti
CTV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Over 600,000 near-miss incidents with pedestrians, cyclists recorded at intersections across Canada
A new study reveals pedestrians and cyclists face high-risk near-misses every day in Canada. (CAA / Miovision) One in every 770 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists experience a high-risk or critical near-miss at intersections across Canada, according to a new study commissioned by CAA. CAA and Miovision—a traffic data analysis company—watched 20 intersections nationwide between August 2024 and February 2025 using cameras and artificial intelligence. They logged over 600,000 near-miss moments, indicating that at least three serious incidents occur at a single location every day. CTV News Toronto spoke to people at the intersection of Park Lawn Road and Lakeshore Boulevard in Etobicoke, and asked how safe they feel crossing the street. 'I always wait extra time and I have a toddler, it terrifies me,' one woman told CTV News. 'I don't even bike on the street I'm so scared someone will hit me,' a cyclist said. The study found that one in every 770 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists were involved in a high-risk or critical near-miss with a vehicle. 'That's almost a cyclist every single day that's coming into an intersection and having a conflict with a vehicle,' said Kristine D'Arbelles, director of public affairs at CAA. 'I would say that's a pretty scary number.' The majority of close calls involved right-turning vehicles, followed by left-turning vehicles, then through-vehicles, according to the study. It also found that if those near-misses were actually crashes, there would be an 85 per cent chance of serious injury. 'Using AI helps to tell us what areas (in intersections) there seems to be an issue, so hopefully we can implement a design that will prevent a collision,' D'Arbelles said. CAA says these near-misses are collisions waiting to happen and are urging municipalities to make intersections safer by improving engineering and infrastructure. The study offered three solutions that would help make intersections safer, including more dedicated left-turn lanes, pedestrian first signal crossings—meaning pedestrians could start crossing the street before vehicles move, and advanced green lights for left-turning vehicles.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
AI-powered study finds pedestrians, cyclists face daily danger at intersections, including in Ottawa
A new CAA study used cameras and artificial intelligence to monitor and analyze intersections, and found pedestrians and cyclists face 'life-threatening' near-misses every day. According to CAA, this is the largest Canadian study of its kind, looking at 20 intersections in 20 cities across Canada. In Ottawa, the focus was on the intersection of Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive. The city nominated this as a busy intersection, according to a CAA news release. Nationally, 616,854 near-misses were recorded over seven months, involving one-in-770 pedestrians and one-in-500 cyclists. The study found near-misses most often involved vehicles making a right turn. More than half (55 per cent of pedestrians and 50 per cent of cyclists) had a close call with a vehicle. And more than a third (34 per cent of pedestrians and 36 per cent of cyclists) were involved in conflict with a left-turning vehicle. 'Every day, pedestrians and cyclists are barely avoiding serious incidents with vehicles that could lead to truly tragic outcomes. They're not isolated to one city, nor are they rare close calls. These are daily, regular occurrences and a warning of what could happen,' says Julie Beun, managing director of communications and public relations for CAA North & East Ontario, in a news release. CAA and its study partner Miovision identified key intersection design features that could reduce the risk of these near-misses, including separate right-turn lanes, having walk signals start before vehicle green lights, and giving left-turning vehicles a dedicated green light before other traffic. 'Working with CAA and municipalities across Canada, we've been able to reveal traffic safety risks before someone gets hurt. This study shows why it's so important to use real-time data to expedite critical safety decisions,' says Olivia Babcock, senior field solutions engineer at Miovision in a news release. 'As more cities embrace a proactive approach, our technology empowers them to act faster, target interventions where they matter most, and build safer streets for everyone.' According to CAA, data was collected using 360-degree cameras at intersections of various designs across seven provinces, including Nova Scotia, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Using AI-powered video analytics, Miovison was able to detect near-misses and assess risk levels based on vehicle speed and trajectory. Detailed findings of the study can be found here. CAA's tips for drivers to avoid hitting pedestrians and cyclists: Check for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the street as you make a left or right turn. Ensure the crosswalk and bike lanes are clear before making a left or right turn. Yield to pedestrians crossing the street. Pedestrians may approach from your right or be hidden by parked cars — scan both sides of the street before turning. Be aware of cyclists that may be travelling straight while you are making a turn into their path. Turning at a slow speed can give you more time to react to unexpected movements from pedestrians and cyclists. Check your blind spots. Do a full shoulder check as your side mirrors might miss a cyclist or pedestrian. When turning right on red, come to a full stop, then look both ways for people crossing and for cyclists riding up on your right. CAA's tips to pedestrians and cyclists to stay safe at intersections: Be alert and remain focused, especially in low visibility. Make eye contact with the driver. Ensure you are seen. Avoid jaywalking. Obey pedestrian signals and only cross at marked crosswalks and intersections. Wear bright, light-coloured clothing or reflective strips, especially in low-light or dark conditions. Watch for vehicles turning at intersections or backing out of driveways. This story will be updated. Check back later for more details.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Cyclists, pedestrians in daily danger at intersections, CAA study finds
OTTAWA, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Pedestrians and cyclists face life-threatening near misses in Canadian intersections every day, according to a groundbreaking new CAA study that sheds light on areas for improvement. The study used cameras and AI to monitor and analyze intersections across Canada in real time, recording on average more than one potentially fatal near-miss per day per intersection. In the largest Canadian study of its kind, over 600,000 near misses were recorded across just 20 intersections over seven months. Actual collisions are recorded by police, but not the near misses that could become tragic. CAA and its study partner Miovision were able to identify key intersection design features that could reduce the risk of these near misses, including separate right-turn lanes, having walk signals start before vehicle green lights, and giving left-turning vehicles a dedicated green light before other traffic. "These representative intersections reveal a snapshot of just how common serious near misses can be – but also where small changes could make a big difference," said Ian Jack, CAA national vice president of public affairs. "These are not isolated incidents— they're regular reminders of why we need to improve intersection safety across the country." The study found near misses most often involved vehicles making a right turn. More than half (55% of pedestrians and 50% of cyclists) had a close call with a vehicle. And more than a third (34% of pedestrians and 36% of cyclists) were involved in conflict with a left-turning vehicle. "This new data can give decision-makers a clearer understanding of intersection safety challenges– and highlight some possible solutions," said Ian Jack. "Working with CAA and municipalities across Canada, we've been able to reveal traffic safety risks before someone gets hurt. This study shows why it's so important to use real-time data to expedite critical safety decisions. As more cities embrace a proactive approach, our technology empowers them to act faster, target interventions where they matter most, and build safer streets for everyone," said Kurtis McBride, CEO of Miovision. Data was collected using 360-degree cameras at intersections of various designs across seven provinces, including Nova Scotia, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Using AI-powered video analytics, Miovision was able to detect near misses and assess risk levels based on vehicle speed and trajectory. Detailed findings of the study can be found here. Extrapolated nationwide, the study reveals that 1 in every 770 pedestrians, and 1 in every 500 cyclists, would experience a high-risk or critical near miss—defined as an incident with an 85% chance of causing serious injury or death. The study uses the Safe Systems Approach to make its recommendations for improvements. This is a framework for preventing serious injuries and fatalities through safer road design and policies, based on the idea that human error is inevitable. CAA's tips to keep vulnerable road users safe at intersections: Check for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the street as you make a left or right turn. Ensure the crosswalk and bike lanes are clear before making a left or right turn. Yield to pedestrians crossing the street. Pedestrians may approach from your right or be hidden by parked cars — scan both sides of the street before turning. Be aware of cyclists that may be travelling straight while you are making a turn into their path. Turning at a slow speed can give you more time to react to unexpected movements from pedestrians and cyclists. Check your blind spots. Do a full shoulder check as your side mirrors might miss a cyclist or pedestrian. When turning right on red, come to a full stop, then look both ways for people crossing and for cyclists riding up on your right. CAA's tips to stay safe at intersections: Be alert and remain focused, especially in low visibility. Make eye contact with the driver. Ensure you are seen. Avoid jaywalking. Obey pedestrian signals and only cross at marked crosswalks and intersections. Wear bright, light-coloured clothing or reflective strips, especially in low-light or dark conditions. Watch for vehicles turning at intersections or backing out of driveways. About CAA CAA is a federation of eight Clubs providing over 7 million Members with exceptional emergency roadside service, complete automotive and travel services, Member savings and comprehensive insurance services. As one of Canada's most trusted brands, CAA also advocates on issues of concern to its Members and all Canadians, including road safety, the environment, mobility, infrastructure, and consumer protection. About Miovision Miovision enables cities to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, while improving public safety through scalable intelligent transportation solutions. Our permanent and portable systems have detected more than 77 billion vehicles and 3 billion pedestrians and cyclists, providing accurate, actionable traffic data and insights that help make transportation safer and more efficient for all. Miovision is headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, and has offices in Germany, Serbia, and the United States. Since its start in 2005, Miovision has served over 5,000 customers in 68 countries. SOURCE Canadian Automobile Association View original content to download multimedia:
