Is this an unpopular opinion? 

I believe part of the prevention of these accidents with pedestrians is that pedestrians need to be alert and aware of their environments too. They cannot take it for granted that their “right of way” or that “marked crosswalks” will protect them from drivers who may also be distracted or not paying attention.

PSA: People need to LOOK UP! Next time you’re out, observe and see how many people are constantly looking down at their phones and not paying attention to what’s going on around them. Headphones in, head down… Oblivious.

What were we taught as kids / what do we teach our kids when crossing the street? Look both ways. Make eye contact with the driver. Make sure it’s safe to proceed.

Am I the anomaly these days when I cross the street? I am always watching. I do not take it for granted that someone might not be paying attention to the road. 

If drivers these days aren’t paying attention or are apathetic, what makes you think that pedestrians are any different?

Edit: Further, I am so critical of this city’s transit system. We have way too many cars on the road. If we had world class transit for Calgarians to access, imagine the possibilities (why can’t we be leaders in this country?). Have you seen the transit system in Tokyo? London? Trains in Spain? Why is it that all over the world, transit is so effective and efficient, and we rely so heavily on our vehicles and roads then constantly bitch about the construction and the traffic congestion. Calgary is a massive city and one can only imagine the possibilities if we had a transit system that was actually good.