An ambulance at the scene of one of Toronto's many recent pedestrian fatalities. (CBC)

Toronto police issued dozens of tickets to pedestrians across the city Wednesday to help drive home the importance of traffic safety after a rash of pedestrian deaths.

Traffic enforcement officers had ticketed 56 jaywalkers and pedestrians who disobeyed traffic signal warnings by late morning. Since Jan. 1, they have issued 289 of the $50 tickets to pedestrians. Police were also ticketing drivers, although the number wasn't immediately available, and issuing warnings.

'Drivers cannot operate with a sense of entitlement to our roads with a "me first" attitude, nor can pedestrians.'—Supt. Earl Witty

The campaign came a day after the Greater Toronto Area recorded its 14th pedestrian fatality in 15 days this month, compared to 31 similar deaths all last year.

"The only common thread between all of these deaths are they involved two things — vehicles and pedestrians," said Toronto police Supt. Earl Witty.

Human error is the real cause of the collisions, he said, adding "road safety is everyone's responsibility."

"Drivers cannot operate with a sense of entitlement to our roads with a 'me first' attitude, nor can pedestrians," said Witty.

"They cannot walk with the belief that all drivers see them and therefore compromise their own safety by not taking ownership of their own actions."

Motorists were being issued $40 tickets for causing gridlock by getting stuck in intersections on red lights, and $180 tickets for failing to stop for a streetcar with its doors open and failing to yield to pedestrians.

Police stationed on the busy downtown Yonge Street, Bay Street and University Avenue south of Queen Street said those situations pose a hazard to pedestrians.

The people of Toronto owe it to the memory of those pedestrians who recently died to learn from the loss of their lives to prevent future deaths, said Witty.

Premier urges mutual respect

Juliette Robinson, 38, died after being struck by an SUV while she crossed slightly west of a marked crosswalk in midtown Toronto on Monday evening.

A 35-year-old man died Monday after being struck by a streetcar. Chen Chung Shao, who was walking on crutches, was struck and killed by a dump truck Friday.

Marites Mendoza, 28, was struck by a car while pushing a stroller with her infant son on Jan. 12. Other victims were struck by transit buses, SUVs, cars, trucks and a tow truck.

Speaking in Kitchener, Ont., on Tuesday, Premier Dalton McGuinty urged both pedestrians and motorists to be respectful of each other and more aware of their surroundings.