TORONTO HYDRO and the CITY OF TORONTO PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE: Less daylight means streetlights are even more important this time of year
Toronto Hydro and City of Toronto encouraging residents to make the streets safer by reporting lights out
TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Daylight savings time ends this weekend, meaning less daylight in the morning and shorter days overall. And, with the cooler temperatures, people will often wear heavier and darker clothing making them difficult to spot. Studies have shown more driver and pedestrian incidents occur when the clock is turned back an hour in the fall.
One way to help drivers and others see better is to ensure the streetlight system is fully operational. That's why the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro") want to remind customers and residents how to report a broken streetlight.
It's as easy as 1-2-3 – residents have three ways to report a streetlighting problem:
- Call the Toronto Hydro hotline at 416-542-3195, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week
- Report online at torontohydro.com/streetlighting
- Call 311 Toronto for help in reporting to Toronto Hydro
To improve response time, customers should provide as much detail about the location, such as a pole number or street address, if possible. Alternatively, providing the nearest cross streets (e.g. Mount Pleasant Road between St. Clair Avenue and Moore Avenue) will assist crews in locating the problem.
With the season change, it's more important than ever to be careful. The City of Toronto has the following tips for pedestrians and drivers.
PEDESTRIANS
- It's darker in the late morning and early evening. Recognize at this time of year, if you are wearing dark clothes, be extra cautious as drivers will have a harder time seeing.
- Try to make eye contact with drivers before stepping off the curb. Just because you see the car doesn't mean that the driver sees you.
- Wait for vehicles to stop before crossing in front of them. Cars take longer to stop than you think.
- Keep aware of traffic until you safely reach the other side.
- Be predictable. Do not make decisions that place you in the path of oncoming traffic.
- Cross at traffic signals, crosswalks and stop signs on busy roads.
- Walk, don't run, across intersections. Only cross when you have enough time to safely do so.
- At pedestrian crossovers, push the button to activate the flashing yellow light and point to indicate your intention to cross.
DRIVERS
- Weather conditions change this time of year. Dry or wet leaves on the road can cause vehicles to slide and lose their ability to make sudden stops.
- Ensure that headlights, brake lights, and signals are working. Headlights should be turned on at dusk.
- Avoid any distractions while driving like eating or using your phone.
About Toronto Hydro
Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro") owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 734,000 customers located in the City of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 18% of the electricity consumed in the province of Ontario.
About the City of Toronto
Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation
Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro-Electric System, [email protected], W: 416-542-2621, C: 416-903-0440; Steve Johnston, City of Toronto, [email protected]; W:416-392-4391
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