Kelowna intersection safety

Open letter to Kelowna’s mayor and councillors,

I hope this letter finds you well. While I do not frequently reach out to your office, I feel compelled to address a pressing matter regarding pedestrian safety in our community.

Having recently relocated from Metro Vancouver after 43 years to provide care for my elderly parents, I now reside in The Midtown building on Dilworth Drive. Since my arrival in May, I have become increasingly concerned about the dangerous encounters I have faced as a pedestrian.

Throughout my extensive travels and time spent in Metro Vancouver, I never encountered such a high frequency of near misses with aggressive or negligent drivers. I adhere to all traffic regulations, ensuring I cross at designated crosswalks only when the "walk" signal is illuminated. Even when the "don't walk" signal shows 15 seconds remaining, I patiently wait. Despite my vigilance, I have recorded more than 20 near misses since I began tracking these near misses.

One particularly harrowing experience occurred last Friday at the intersection of Dilworth Drive and Baron Road. While crossing, I heard a loud truck approaching. A lifted black Dodge Ram 4x4 with Alberta plates made a reckless turn as I was already in the crosswalk.

I raised my hands in an attempt to signal my presence and the driver slammed on the brakes just before colliding with me. There wasn’t much room between me and the grill of his truck. I am five-feet, four-inches tall and 125 pounds and I would surely have died or suffered life-altering injuries if struck.

This reckless maneuver not only endangered my life but also caused the driver to obstruct oncoming traffic, which also had to abruptly stop. After, he revved his engine aggressively while I remained in the intersection, leaving me shaken and scared. He then revved his vehicle’s engine and tore off like I had done something incorrect.

I consistently wear bright clothing and use a flashing safety light when walking at night to enhance my visibility. However, I have experienced more than 20 near misses at the intersections of Dilworth and Baron, as well as at Dilworth and Springfield Road and at Baron Road and Underhill Street.

Many of those incidents involve elderly drivers who seem to focus solely on other traffic, failing to yield to pedestrians. It is alarming to consider the potential dangers faced by individuals with visual impairments who rely on auditory signals to cross safely.

Additionally, I encountered an elderly lady at the corner of Baron and Underhill who expressed her fear of crossing, despite the "walk" signal being activated. She attempted to cross multiple times on her own but felt too frightened to proceed without assistance. I was able to help her but this situation highlights the urgent need for action.

As we are aware, several individuals have suffered injuries or even fatalities this year due to drivers failing to respect pedestrians' right of way. This critical issue must be addressed promptly. I value my life and consider these intersections among the most hazardous I have encountered in my travels.

I trust that you will take this matter seriously and address it accordingly. Thank you for your attention.

Debbie Blumauer, Kelowna