In March 2024, Jessica McConnell’s mother, Fran, was killed by a driver in Sebring, Fla. Fran, who was 63, was cycling southbound on Ponce DeLeon Boulevard when 19-year-old Tavarrius Hilton, driving a Chevrolet Malibu, hit her from behind. Fran McConnell died at the scene, and Hilton fled. Although the FHP’s Homicide Unit found the Malibu in Sebring and arrested Hilton for fleeing the scene, Jessica experienced the worst pain: being told back in Toronto that her mother had died.
It’s an unfortunate job of mine at Canadian Cycling Magazine to write about such tragedies. One instance is too many, and there are many. However, this one was very close to home: Jessica is a long-time friend, and I was moved by an open letter she posted. With her permission, here is the letter in its entirety.
“Unimaginable Tragedy”: An open letter to legislators and prosecutors
On August 29, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were tragically struck and killed in New Jersey while riding their bicycles. Five months earlier, my mother was fatally struck in Highlands County, Florida, while riding hers. My heart is with the Gaudreau family as they begin to navigate the incredibly difficult road ahead. The Columbus Blue Jackets called the Gaudreaus’ deaths an “unimaginable tragedy.”
After my mom died, I heard that phrase countless times. But I can imagine the tragedy—and I’m not the only one. Every year across the U.S. and Canada, more than 900 families experience this. Both the State of Florida and State of New Jersey have a “safe passing” law for vehicles attempting to pass a cyclist. In Florida, a driver must leave at least 3 feet (just under a metre) of space. In New Jersey, that distance is 4 feet (1.22 m), and the driver must be prepared to stop.
A steady increase in cyclists killed
It seems that neither of these pieces of legislation is enough. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the average number of cyclists killed across the U.S. has risen steadily since 2010, with more than 850 people losing their lives on the road. In Canada, the average is 54 per year. That the rate of cyclist deaths is rising underscores the urgent need for a robust legal and political response to these preventable tragedies. As advocates for justice and representatives of your constituents, the weight of your roles is significant in this regard.
Every one of the 900+ cyclist fatalities that occur every year sends shockwaves through the families, teams, communities, and neighborhoods of the victims. Families mourning lost loved ones deserve more than sympathy: we need steadfast representation and a commitment to imposing appropriate prevention and accountability measures. Eliminating exposure to crashes is the single most effective control that can be implemented to improve cyclist safety—designated bike lanes save lives. Speed limit reduction and enforced radar is a good alternative control when construction of dedicated bicycling lanes is not feasible.
Legislators and prosecutors must signal society’s intolerance toward negligence on our roads and reinforce the notion that every driver must prioritize safety above all else. Please consider how you can help prevent senseless loss of life in your jurisdictions: there are at least 900 non-polarizing opportunities to do so. Please consider a donation to the Florida Bicycle Association or Friends and Families for Safe Streets in honor of Fran McConnell. If you or someone you know is in need of cyclist representation in Ontario, contact The Biking Lawyer LLP.
The post A daughter’s plea for change: An open letter after mother killed by motorist appeared first on Canadian Cycling Magazine.
