Parents in Montreal West are advocating for increased safety measures at a busy intersection following a recent incident where two students from Royal Academy West were hit by a car while walking to school. The children sustained minor injuries, prompting concerns among parents about the intersection’s safety.
Alana Cymerman, a parent at Royal West Academy, expressed her fear over the inadequacy of the street setup, emphasizing the frequency of near-misses at the location. The incident occurred when a car traveling south on Westminster Street failed to yield at a stop sign and struck the students, leading to panic among parents like Cymerman.
Despite the implementation of flashing stop signs last year, parents feel that more stringent safety precautions are necessary, especially during busy morning traffic. Jessica Houde-Woytiuk, the English Montreal School Board’s parent commissioner for high schools, highlighted the persistent efforts of parents to advocate for enhanced safety measures at the intersection, which has been the site of multiple accidents in the past.
Residents and officials are calling for the deployment of a crossing guard at the intersection of Ainslie and Westminster streets to improve safety for students walking to school. They argue that high school students, who are often on their phones and unaccompanied by adults, are equally if not more vulnerable to traffic incidents. A petition has been launched urging the province to allow crossing guards near high schools, garnering over 3,000 signatures in a short period.
With concerns about the intersection’s safety mounting, parents are urging swift action to prevent future accidents and ensure the well-being of students in the area.
Keyphrase: Montreal West intersection safety
