CAA report finds more than 610,000 ‘near misses’ at intersections
Posted Jun 19, 2025 07:02:40 AM.
Last Updated Jun 19, 2025 11:11:06 AM.
A new report details how dangerous intersections across Canada can be for pedestrians and cyclists when involving vehicles.
The study from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) researched 20 intersections in cities across the country, including some in Waterloo and Guelph, to give a detailed look into how often vehicles and pedestrians are almost colliding at crosswalks and intersections.
Because near misses are rarely, if ever, reported to police, the statistics on how often they occur were limited.
By analyzing hours of footage from intersection cameras, CAA tracked more than 610,000 near misses in a seven-month span between September 2024 and February 2025.
“How can technology help really tackle some of these potential situations and reduce the possibility of either injuries or fatalities on our roads?” said Theresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of communications with CAA.
The data collected by the organization will be used to tackle that question and help guide roadwork projects that look to make intersections safer.
According to Liraz Fridman, road safety supervisor with the City of Guelph, the study fits with the city’s initiatives to reach zero serious injuries and deaths on the roads.
They chose the intersection of Gordon Street and Waterloo Avenue as the subject of the study.
“This location was chosen because people regularly walk, cycle and drive through here, it’s in Downtown Guelph, and we have lots of data for this location,” said Fridman in an email to 570 NewsRadio. “Additionally, we already had a Miovision camera at this intersection that can analyze near-miss conflicts.”
The Guelph Farmers Market is located at that intersection, drawing more than 2,500 people weekly.
According to the CAA study, one in 770 pedestrians and one in 500 cyclists experience a critical near-miss while crossing the road.
“It can be challenging. Our intersections in Canada and urban centres are really busy. CAA is interested in looking at all types of road safety issues and whether we can mitigate fatalities and collisions on our roads,” said Di Felice.
CAA found that intersections with dedicated left turn and right turn lanes, protected left turn phasing, leading pedestrian intervals, and a compact design were found to be safer and should be applied in municipalities where possible.
570 NewsRadio has reached out to the City of Waterloo to find out which intersection it chose for the study and has yet to receive a response.
