Liberal Bill Will Allow Crosswalk Flag Program To Continue

September 28, 2009

(Halifax, NS) Today in the House of Assembly, Dartmouth East Liberal MLA Andrew Younger introduced an amendment to the province’s Motor Vehicle Act which will enable the Halifax Regional Municipality to continue with the successful Waverley Road Crosswalk Flag Program.

“This legislation doesn’t force municipalities to use the crosswalk flags,” explained Younger. “We are simply including flags as a safety device under the Act and providing Nova Scotians with another tool to improve crosswalk safety.”

After a very successful trial, the Waverley Road Crosswalk Flag Program received the unanimous endorsement of HRM council. The program, organized by concerned community members, consisted of a bucket of orange flags on each side of a crosswalk. Pedestrians were encouraged to carry a flag through the crosswalk and deposit it on the other side.

Due to a gap in provincial legislation, the flag program was shut down. Younger says the Liberal amendment simply closes the gap and permits HRM, or any Nova Scotia municipality, to implement the crosswalk flag program.

“Essentially what we have here is a dispute,” the Liberal MLA says. “While the minister says municipal traffic authorities can do what they want, the traffic authority can’t use crosswalk flags because the regulations in the Motor Vehicle Act do not permit them. The minister could use his authority and amend the regulations to add flags, but he seems to think it's not necessary.”

Younger believes there is no reason for the minister not to approve this act - the bill has zero cost and merely clarifies the rules so that municipalities can use crosswalk flags if they wish.

“The passing of the buck on measures to improve crosswalk safety between the province and municipalities must stop today,” says Younger. “I believe we all have a responsibility to do what we can to improve visibility and safety at crosswalks - flags are but one measure.”

“This is the right thing to do and I hope it will receive all party support.”