Why are Toronto’s roads so dangerous?

Guests: Shawn Micallef, columnist, and Gilbert Ngabo, reporter

Toronto is one of the major Canadian cities where collisions with pedestrians are at a dangerous high. More than a hundred pedestrians were killed on Toronto roads between 2018 and 2020. Among those, 69 per cent were age 55 years or older, according to the Toronto Police Service. It’s been nearly five years since the launch of Toronto’s $123-million Vision Zero plan with aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries. The city hasn’t come close to that target even with an unprecedented decline in car use last year. There have been 46 casualties in 2021, and the year hasn’t ended yet. October has been particularly deadly with a string of traffic deaths that included a 17-year-old girl and a much-loved couple.

Today on “This Matters,” columnist Shawn Micallef and reporter Gilbert Ngabo talk about why Torontonians are dying on the streets of their city, and what needs to happen for the roads to be safe, accessible and equitable for everyone.