Answer: Not always.
That is the key takeaway that the City of Ottawa will share at a road safety event on Thursday, September 21 at City Hall.
The free interactive educational event includes a large City vehicle parked on Marion Dewar Plaza with bicycles and life-sized pedestrian cut-outs, representing vulnerable road users, situated around it. Some are in the safe areas visible to the driver through the windshield or rear-view mirror. The rest are in the large and dangerous blind spots.
Visitors are invited to climb into the driver’s seat or position themselves outside to understand why it’s safer to stay out in front or well behind large vehicles. This should help everyone make safe decisions on the road whether driving a vehicle, walking or cycling.
At the event, City staff will answer questions and hand out free safety gear, such as reflective bands and lights. A bike mechanic will also be on hand for free bike tune-ups.
This educational event is presented as part of the City of Ottawa's 2020-2024 Road Safety Action Plan which delivers education, enforcement and engineering efforts where they can have the greatest effect on reducing collisions that result in major injury or death.
Date: Thursday, September 21
Time: 3 to 5pm
Location: Marion Dewar Plaza, City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.