A new study commissioned by CAA reveals that in Canada, one in every 770 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists experience a high-risk or critical near-miss at intersections. The study, conducted in partnership with traffic data company Miovision, monitored 20 intersections across the country between August 2024 and February 2025. Using cameras and AI, they recorded over 600,000 near-misses, suggesting that at least three serious incidents occur daily at each location.
At the intersection of Park Lawn Road and Lakeshore Boulevard in Etobicoke, residents expressed concern about safety. One woman, who has a toddler, said she always waits extra time to cross, while a cyclist shared that they avoid biking on the street due to fear of being hit.
The study found that the majority of near-misses involved right-turning vehicles, followed by left-turning and through-vehicles. If these near-misses were crashes, there would be an 85% chance of serious injury. CAA’s Kristine D’Arbelles called the statistics alarming, stating, “That’s almost a cyclist every single day that’s coming into an intersection and having a conflict with a vehicle.”
CAA is urging municipalities to improve intersection safety through better engineering and infrastructure. The study recommended three solutions: more dedicated left-turn lanes, pedestrian-first signal crossings (where pedestrians can start crossing before vehicles move), and advanced green lights for left-turning vehicles.