Sudbury police ramp up enforcement at intersections — targeting pedestrians and drivers

Sudbury police have fined 60 drivers for not properly obeying the rules at intersections as part of a January blitz to improve pedestrian safety in the city.

Sudbury deputy police chief Al Lekun told CBC News that dozens of tickets were given to drivers who ran red lights, did not stay within intersection lines, and failed to give pedestrians the right of way at stop signs.

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Police also targeted pedestrians. Officers gave out Tim Hortons gift cards to people they found properly using crosswalk — but also charged five pedestrians with jaywalking.

"For the most part, pedestrians that we've observed have been observing the rules of the road by virtue of the fact that we've given out more awareness and gift cards than we have tickets. So it seems to be working."

For those who were ticketed, Lekun said pedestrians were seen putting themselves in a precarious situation by not using a crosswalk.

"Walking across a roadway in the middle of a roadway, instead of going to an intersection where there's a crosswalk, that puts themselves or others in danger," he said.

On the weekend, a pedestrian was fined after a collision with a vehicle on Saturday. The incident happened at the intersection of Notre Dame and Ste. Anne Road downtown.

Injuries were reported as non-life-threatening, and the pedestrian was fined $50 for disobeying the "don't walk" signal.