An accident on Lake Shore Blvd. W. on Wednesday afternoon that left 10 people injured and downtown traffic snarled past rush hour is a tragic reminder of the importance of road awareness.

Two vehicles smashed into each other and then into a group of people and a lamp post at the intersection at about 1:20 p.m.

According to police, both vehicles were travelling west on Lake Shore Blvd. W. when one vehicle turned left across the path of the other to proceed south on Bay St.

While this accident, which injured six pedestrians, including a 74-year-old man who remains in critical condition, was caused by an illegal road manoeuvre, it raises questions about how drivers and pedestrians navigate the major downtown artery.

How pedestrians interpret the newer countdown-type pedestrian signals is becoming a major concern for police, said Const. Hugh Smith of traffic services. Many don’t really understand what the timer means.

According to the Ministry of Transportation driver handbook, “A pedestrian facing a flashing or steady hand symbol should not begin to cross the road.”

Countdown timers have replaced the flashing hand at many Toronto intersections. Pedestrians shouldn’t start crossing after the countdown (accompanied by a steady hand symbol) begins. Drivers are permitted to make turns through the crosswalk once there are no pedestrians left crossing the road, Smith said.

But things can get dangerous if a pedestrian, hoping to beat the countdown, darts out onto the road after a driver has already begun to make a turn, thinking the crosswalk is clear.

“What we’re finding down there is people aren’t paying attention to the countdown timers,” he said. “A lot of people take it for granted.”

Pedestrians who have already begun to cross when the hand signal appears should go as quickly as possible to a safe area, according to the driver handbook, and while they are crossing, pedestrians still have the right-of-way over vehicles.

Not a strong proponent of the countdown timer on the crosswalk, Smith said it leaves pedestrians to make the decision about whether to cross or not — and unfortunately the decision isn’t always the best.

“I grew up with the stop hand and the walking person,” he said. “With the flashing hand, it means do not start and do not begin, and it has a timer.

“People think it’s a warning and they have that time to cross.”

Coupled with the ongoing repairs to the underside of the Gardiner Expressway and the large concrete pillars along the edge of the roadway and near crosswalks, this can be a contributing factor to congestion on Lake Shore, Smith added.

“People are coming out in the blind areas and the drivers think there is no pedestrian there, they’re starting manoeuvres,” he said. “The amount of construction … it disrupts driver’s sightlines and they have to pay more attention to the traffic signals and be more aware of what’s going on.”

It is important people know their surroundings, said Const. Tony Vella. Using the traffic lights properly to cross, and avoiding crossing in midblock or walking between cars can improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians.

“It’s important for pedestrians to take their time,” he said. “Sometimes they’re in a rush and they’re not paying attention.”

On Lake Shore, “you’re very much part of the intersection,” Smith said, and it’s crucial for people to be watching traffic at all times in case they need to act quickly to protect themselves.

“The sidewalk is six inches of curb to stop a car that loses control.”

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Six pedestrians were injured in the Wednesday accident, along with the four occupants of the two vehicles. Seven people were taken to hospital.

Related:

10 injured in crash at Lake Shore and Bay