Grey Highlands resident Ron Barnett is expanding his efforts to improve safety for pedestrians on local roads.
Barnett was at Grey Highlands council on Sept. 4 and requested that the municipality provide $250 in support for his safety armband initiative, which is now in its third year.
Barnett began purchasing and handing out light-up LED safety armbands in 2022 after an accident near his home in Eugenia in which four pedestrians were struck by a car, one of whom was killed.
He started by handing out 700 armbands to trick-or-treaters. In 2023, Barnett expanded the program and gave out 1,200 armbands.
This year, he will be handing 4,000 armbands across south Grey County in Grey Highlands, Chatsworth, West Grey and Southgate. In addition, Barnett has printed 5,000 pedestrian road safety brochures that he will be distributing along with the armbands. Funding from the Ontario Road Safety Community Partnership Grant has helped with the project.
“It’s a grassroots campaign that was born in Grey Highlands,” Barnett told council.
The brochures include tips on safety for all road users and the armbands wrap around a person’s arm and light up to show drivers a pedestrian is on the road.
Barnett said in recent years the community has done a lot of work to improve safety for pedestrians on local roads and noted that education is “an important pillar to reduce the number and severity of accidents.”
“I’m hoping that council sees the value of continuing their support for this grassroots initiative,” Barnett said, who said he will bring 250 armbands and brochures to the municipal office in Markdale for distribution.
Council, which had provided Barnett with a donation for the project in previous years, was on board with continuing its support. Council passed a resolution to receive Barnett’s request and asked staff to provide a brief report on how the $250 donation could be funded.
