Brown recognized for efforts aimed at cyclist, pedestrian safety

The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) recently recognized Toronto critical injury lawyer Patrick Brown for his tireless work and advocacy around the Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act.

Brown, a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP, was presented with the AGM Professional Award for his work promoting the private member’s bill, which would apply to 40 offences where a vulnerable road user is killed or seriously injured.

The Act would also result in mandatory minimum added penalties of licence suspension, community service, completion of a driving course and the requirement to be present when the victim impact statement is read.

“I’m honoured to have been recognized by OBIA for vulnerable road user laws,” he says. “I appreciate their continued support of our advocacy efforts.”

Brown, a safety advocate on behalf of the Coalition for Vulnerable Road User Laws and founder of Canada Bike Law, says road violence should not be an acceptable norm.

A sharp rise in cyclists and pedestrians dying on Toronto streets is triggering demands that Mayor John Tory, city council and the Ontario government act now to stop the carnage, the Toronto Star reports.

The article states Brown has been leading the charge by road safety advocates who have been demanding the province adopt the Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act but have yet to be successful.

“The province snubs its nose at the request,” Brown tells the Star.

However, he says he understands that the bill will be put before Queen’s Park for the third time. His coalition is hopeful that this much-needed law is finally passed.

Brown says in addition to passing the Act, pedestrian and cyclist deaths could be reduced by declaring all streets in Toronto community safety zones, lowering speed limits and doubling penalties, and restricting vehicles in highly dense areas based on weight and size.