One Red Rocket Rider Is Struck Each Month

Mon, 2007-07-16 13:19.

Silvana Aceto

One red rocket rider is struck stepping on or off a streetcar every month and that's why police are urging motorists, cyclists and passengers to "Take the Time to Check." The one-week TTC safety blitz kicked off Monday and officers are reminding drivers they can be slapped with a fine for passing open streetcar doors.

If you don't hit the brakes when streetcar doors swing open, you'll have to cough up 110 bucks and you'll be slapped with 3 demerit points.

It's the law and Mike Hazlett with Transit Control said either drivers don't know or they're just in hurry to get to where they're going. He's now urging red rocket riders to "take the time to check."

"When passengers are getting off, we want them to stop and look and make sure cars have stopped for them and keep them out of danger," Hazlett said.

But Inspector Len Faul with Traffic Services stressed about 100 drivers a day continue to speed by open door streetcars, despite stop signs on the doors.

"That should give you a clue. Stop. If the doors are open or about to open."

Faul added, "a few extra seconds maybe all that is needed to ensure both you and everyone else sharing our roadways in our community reach their destinations safely."

Last year, there were 150 onboard accidents on our streetcars and 2, 657 collisions involving TTC vehicles all of because of careless drivers.