The most important
safety tip to reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities is to pay attention.
You can significantly reduce your chances of being in a collision with a motor
vehicle by obeying traffic rules and being aware of dangers posed by cars in
your vicinity. Make eye contact with drivers if possible and make sure that
they can see you.
Both drivers and
pedestrians have certain safety responsibilities that depend on both
circumstances and common sense
Drivers must:
- Yield to pedestrians when crossing a sidewalk or
entering an alley or driveway
- Yield to pedestrians who have started crossing at an
intersection or crosswalk on a "walk" signal or a green light,
if there is no walk signal
- Yield to pedestrians who are crossing the highway
within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are
no traffic lights or control signals
- Not overtake and pass any vehicle that stops at an
intersection or crosswalk to permit a pedestrian or bicyclist to cross the
roadway safely
Pedestrians must:
- Yield to drivers when crossing a road where there is no
intersection or crosswalk or where the pedestrian does not have a green or
"walk" signal and where vehicles have a green signal
- Not suddenly move into the path of a closely
approaching vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield for a
pedestrian
- Walk on and along the left side of a highway when not
walking on a sidewalk. Note: This law does not apply to bicycles. Bicycles
operate under the same laws as other legal vehicles on the road and should
always stay on the right side of the road.
Pedestrian pointers to keep in mind:
·
Pay attention
A recent report from
the Federal Bureau of Transportation Safety concluded that the pedestrian was
solely at fault in 43% of car-pedestrian collisions and that both were at fault
in 13% of collisions. You can significantly reduce your chances of death or
injury by obeying traffic rules and being aware of dangers posed by cars in
your vicinity. For example: 58% of pedestrian-car crashes occur while the
pedestrian was crossing the street. Pay close attention to cars in your
vicinity. Make eye contact with drivers if possible.
·
Don’t "Drink and
Walk"
Unlike driving under
the influence of alcohol or other drugs, walking will probably not result in
the death or injury of someone else - but it could very well result in yours.
As an inebriated pedestrian your chances of suffering an accident increase
significantly. If you’ve been drinking, take a cab or a bus, or let someone
sober drive you home.
·
Take extra care at
night and at dusk
Walking at night
increases your chances of death or injury. Drivers cannot avoid what they can’t
see. When walking at night, wear retro-reflective outdoor clothing or shoes or
lights to make yourself more visible. Avoid wearing dark clothing. Most importantly,
don’t assume that drivers can see you. Always walk on the left hand side of the
road or on the sidewalk. This way, motorists can see you and will not be
approaching you from behind.
·
Provide proper
supervision and training for children
Young children up to
age 9 often lack the judgment and experience to make good choices when dealing
with traffic. Their smaller stature also makes them harder for motorists to
see. Adults need to take special care to teach children to behave safely when
they are around automobile traffic. Supervision is crucial through about age 9.
Motorists are also responsible for child pedestrian safety. Slow down in school
zones, near parks and pools and in neighborhoods. Parents dropping off children
at school are a major threat to walking children and to those leaving motor
vehicles. Stay cautious after dropping off your own child.
