Making the streets safer for children and seniors

Last updated December 20, 2024
Reading time: 2 min

Two programs to protect the most vulnerable Montrealers

To reduce the risk of collisions involving pedestrians, especially children and older people, Montréal has set up two programs to boost safety-related projects in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.

People aged 65 and up are over-represented in road collisions causing death or serious injuries. That is why Montréal launched the seniors pedestrian safety program (PSPA) in 2023. The goal is to make the areas including seniors’ residences, shopping centres, recreation centres and healthcare institutions safer for the seniors who often visit there.

Main safety measures

The city has carried out several projects to make the area around these sites safer. For example:

Installing curb extensions

Curb extensions prevent cars from parking too close to the intersection. Drivers and pedestrians can then see each other more easily. By shortening the distance across the street, extensions also let pedestrians cross the street faster.

What’s more, curb extensions ease traffic congestion by reducing the amount of road space, which encourages drivers to slow down.

These installations are also a good opportunity to make a neighbourhood greener by planting flowers, bushes, trees and more.

École du Grand-Héron in LaSalle. Curb extensions reduce the length of the pedestrian crossing on the road, which keeps vehicles from parking too close and makes children easier to see when they cross the street.
  • Before and after shots of an intersection. Before: Cars parked closed to the pedestrian crossing marks on the ground. After: Curb extensions, freshly painted pedestrian crossing marks and cars parked along the curb, away from the intersection.

Building or widening sidewalks

Building or widening sidewalks creates barrier-free pedestrian corridors adapted to the community’s needs.

Sidewalks promote the sharing of public space by narrowing traffic lanes, which calms traffic and makes it safer for vulnerable people to move around. In addition, the sidewalks encourage people to walk instead of drive.

They also allow space for street furniture, such as benches and bike racks, or for planting trees.

For the most vulnerable residents, the city takes actions to make travel safer all year round:

  • Removing snow and ice from sidewalks
  • Clearing intersections
  • Setting up safe crosswalks around construction sites.

Installing speed bumps

Speed bumps are designed to slow down traffic. Sometimes, more than one speed bump is installed in the same stretch of road. This measure encourages drivers to slow down along the entire length of that section of the road.

École Fernand-Gauthier in Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles. Three consecutive speed bumps were added to the street in front of the school to make sure drivers obey the speed limit.
  • Before and after shots. Before: The street in front of the school had no speed bumps. After: Three speed bumps as wide as the streets were added.

Installing countdown pedestrian lights

Countdown pedestrian lights feature a white “walk” silhouette and orange hand, and a digital timer that counts down how much time is left to cross. This time is based not only on the distance to cross, but also on the environment where the traffic light is located. To ensure a safe crossing time for all, the digital countdown allows children and seniors more time to cross intersections near places such as:

  • Elementary schools, CPEs and daycare centres
  • Residences for seniors
  • Medical clinics
  • Hospitals

In the coming years, the city plans to install pedestrian countdown lights at all intersections with traffic lights, for every pedestrian crossing (except in cases of unusual sidewalk configurations or when crossing is not permitted).

Adding pedestrian islands at intersections

Pedestrian islands let you cross an intersection in two stages. They are also a safe place to stop midway across the street.

These islands make it easier to cross the street because you can keep an eye on one direction of traffic at a time. They also encourage drivers to slow down when making left turns.

Pedestrian islands are particularly helpful for people who may need more time to get around, such as older people, children and people with reduced mobility.

École Augustin-Roscelli in Ahuntsic-Cartierville. Before: Pedestrians had to cross the street without stopping. After: The concrete extension of the median protects pedestrians who need to cross the street in two stages.
  • Before: An intersection with traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing. After: The median now has a concrete extension with tactile paving, which helps people with vision impairments locate the pedestrian island.

Safety programs by the numbers

School Street Safety Program (PSAÉ)

Since it was launched in 2019, the program has benefitted 118 schools, 4 daycares and 5 parks.

Senior Pedestrian Safety Program (PSPA)

The 7 projects selected during the first call for projects in 2023 have been carried out or will be carried out in 2024. 

These programs were set up as part of Vision Zéro.

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