A senior citizen was hit by an SUV while crossing a busy intersection because he found himself in a blind spot created by a glass pillar, a cause that’s little known, though it accounts for about a third of all pedestrian deaths in Montreal.
On a cold day in November, as Huguette Brisebois crossed the street, at the intersection of Saint-Denis and Beaubien, she was hit by a driver making a left turn. The light was green and she was walking safely in the designated pedestrian area.
But the 89-year-old woman unfortunately found herself in the blind spot of a Dodge Journey created by the driver’s side mirror pillar, also known as “a pillar”. She died of severe head injuries.
With his report released recently, Coroner Me Lawrence Sarasin wants to highlight the existence of this blind spot, which is still little known. A pillar that supports the roof of a vehicle sometimes obscures other users.
In 2022, following recommendations from other coroners, the SAAQ made changes to the learner driver training guide to highlight this area.
“But I want to continue to create awareness among experienced drivers who may not have seen this feature in driving lessons,” said M.e Sarrazine.
A more current issue
The statistics are alarming. Between 2019 and 2023, one in three pedestrian deaths in the borough will involve the blind spot created by the A pillar, according to Montreal police statistics.
Because vehicles are usually built to be more secure, and therefore more robust, to protect the occupants. “So this pillar is much stronger than it was a few years ago,” says Me Lawrence Sarasin.
“On our roads, there are always more SUVs – they have a big blind spot – which has an impact on the frequency of these types of collisions,” worries Sandrine Cabana-Degani, director general of Piétons Québec.
A false blind spot
The good news is that this isn’t a real blind spot, the director explains. Very simple, the scanning technique before a turn allows you to check the presence of pedestrians or cyclists (see information box).
Unlike blind spots on the side of a vehicle, drivers are less aware of the importance of this maneuver, M.me Cabana-Dekhani.
“Regardless of the size of the pillar, it is the driver’s responsibility to adapt their driving to check its environment,” says Marc Thomson, director of Quebec’s Association of Driving Schools.
Coroner Me Laurence Sarrazin made two recommendations to the SAAQ: increase awareness among drivers of the dangers of these blind spots and improve scanning techniques. Both campaigns in this direction are planned for this fall, the company pointed out Newspaper.
The director of Piétons Québec is happy with the start of mobilization in the province, but he believes manufacturers must also work on designing vehicles to reduce risks at source.
Wipe technique
Front glass pillars can create a blind spot. So pedestrians or cyclists, especially when turning, may not be visible to the driver. The wiping technique is a great way to prevent these types of accidents.
“It’s rocking back and forth in your seat to clear the blind spot. It’s something we all have to integrate as drivers,” explains Coroner M.e Lawrence Sarasin.
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