Prioritizing Pedestrian Safety in St. John's

The safety of people walking, rolling, cycling and driving in our city is a top priority. As we head into warmer season with increased pedestrian activity, the City of St. John’s is reminding all road users to stay alert and take extra care near intersections and crosswalks.

For Drivers:

• Slow down in residential areas and near crosswalks, schools, and parks.
• Yield at crosswalks — it’s the law.
• Stay focused — no texting or distractions.
• Be extra cautious in low visibility conditions such as rain, fog, dusk, or dawn.
• Watch for people using mobility devices, strollers, or walking pets who may need extra time to cross.

For Pedestrians:

• Cross only at marked crosswalks or intersections.
• Obey traffic signals and wait for the walk signal when available.
• Make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street.
• Remove headphones and avoid looking at your phone while crossing.
• Wear bright or reflective clothing when walking in low light.
• Teach children to look both ways and to wait until vehicles come to a full stop.

Let’s look out for each other and keep our streets safe!

Learn more about Road Safety

2025 Crosswalk Safety Improvements

Helping everyone travel safely means not only promoting awareness but also investing in infrastructure. That’s why the City of St. John’s continues to upgrade crosswalks through its Annual Crosswalk Improvement Program.

This initiative supports the City’s goal of maintaining a safe, inclusive active transportation network by upgrading existing crosswalks and adding new ones where needed.

Planned improvements this year include the addition of rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs), overhead flashers, curb extensions, and accessible signals at several locations across the city, as follows:

• Cornwall Crescent at O'Reilly Street (Overhead Flashers)
• Doyles Road at Main Road (RRFBs)
• Duckworth Street at Cathedral Street (RRFBs)
• Duckworth Street at Ordinance Street (curb extensions)
• Elizabeth Avenue at Carpasian Road (RRFBs)
• Elizabeth Avenue at Whiteway Street (Overhead Flashers)
• Ennis Avenue at Vanier Elementary School (RRFBs)
• Hamilton Avenue at Symonds Avenue (RRFBs)
• Mayor Avenue at Kellys Brook Trail (Overhead Flashers)
• Military Road at Bannerman Street (curb extensions & RRFBs)
• Military Road at Carew (curb extensions & RRFBs)
• Newfoundland Drive at Oderin Place (RRFBs)
• Newfoundland Drive at Virginia River Trail (RRFBs)
• Portugal Cove Road at Kerry Street (RRFBs)
• Waterford Bridge Road at Road De Luxe (RRFBs)
• Winter Avenue at Kings Bridge Road (signal timing improvements)

Work in 2025 will be carried out in coordination with other roadwork and infrastructure projects to maximize efficiency and funding.