Hamilton is looking to install at least 20 crosswalks covered by stricter new rules that better protect pedestrians and have harsher punishments for drivers who disobey them.

The new rules came into effect on Jan. 1 requiring more patience for Ontario drivers waiting for pedestrians to cross the road in certain types of crossings. Drivers face fines of up to $500 if they don't wait until a pedestrian has completely crossed the road before they go again.

For now, Hamilton only has one type of crossing affected by the new rules, but city traffic staff say that could change in the coming months.

A pedestrian crossover has overhead lights/warning signs and pedestrian push buttons. (Ontario Ministry of Transportation) The rules affect school crossings when crossing guards are present and pedestrian "crossovers," usually controlled with signs and amber flashing lights.

For now, in Hamilton, "the only one that really comes into play is the school crossing locations," said Dave Ferguson, the city's traffic superintendent.

But in the next couple of months, city staff plan to bring a plan for city council approval that would install the pedestrian crossovers in certain locations across the city, he said.

The new rules and crossings come after eight pedestrians were killed in 2015, according to Hamilton Police. That's almost half of all of the 18 traffic fatalities reported by the police last year.

Ferguson said the plan will include around 20 locations where crossovers could be installed as early as this year without "a huge impact," and another phase of suggested locations that would require more planning, awareness campaigns and consultation.

One of the locations his team is working on is at Queen and Herkimer streets in Durand, he said, in response to a request from Coun. Aidan Johnson.

Ferguson said both drivers and pedestrians need to be taught about how the crossovers work.

"This is obviously a big change from what motorists have been used to," he said. "You don't want to just throw these things out there."

The crossovers and new laws will resemble what some drivers and pedestrians are used to from other parts of the country, he said.

"Ontario, for whatever reason, has a driver behavior where 'I need to get where I'm going fast, quick,'" he said. "I think there's going to be some growing pains with it and that's where the education component is really going to have to come into play."