By David Opinko

LPS urging traffic safety after recent pedestrian collisions

Apr 1, 2025 | 12:10 PM

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) says drivers and pedestrians both have a part to play in preventing pedestrian collisions.

Traffic Response Unit Sgt. Danny Lomness is speaking out after police responded to at least three collisions involving pedestrians in just the first three months of 2025.

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“We need to make everyone aware and get everybody to get on board to work together to make it safer,” says Lomness. “Drivers need to be paying more attention, pedestrians need to take more caution. We just want to give ourselves the best chance to be safe out there as we can.”

For drivers, he says cell phones are one of the biggest safety risks as they can get distracted by a text message or phone call

Lomness adds that there have been several incidents of motorists speeding in school and playground zones.

“In those areas, we have younger kids sometimes that don’t understand the ramifications of jumping out in between a couple of vehicles to get a ball that bounced out,” says Lomness.

He asks pedestrians to make sure they are not looking down at their phones when approaching an intersection and to make eye contact with drivers to ensure they are going to stop for them. Loud music can also distract people as they attempt to walk across the street.

LPS launched a traffic project in March that saw them team up with the Alberta Sheriffs to provide education to pedestrians and drivers about intersection safety.

“We were able to attend the majority of the schools in the City of Lethbridge and we walked to just below about 300 people, talking to them about – it could’ve been kids or it could’ve been the parents – about how to cross roads safely or if they’re conducting U-turns, stopping on crosswalks, speeding.”

READ MORE: LPS & Sheriffs project focusing on pedestrian safety

Effective April 1, the Government of Alberta is reducing its usage of photo radar ticketing. They are now only allowed in school and playground zones, as well as other approved high-risk areas.

In anticipation of these changes, LPS recently added photo radar to 42 playground zones in the city.

READ MORE: Photo radar to be added in 42 Lethbridge playground zones

READ MORE: Alberta introducing new fund for traffic safety following changes to photo radar guidelines

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