As someone who enjoys jogging and walking around your city, it is important that you understand how to protect yourself and those around you. Pedestrians, just as much as drivers, need to pay attention and be ready to follow the rules of the road.
Pedestrian accidents often involve younger children, like those under 10, but anyone can end up involved in a pedestrian accident. What can you do to stay safer? Here are a few helpful tips.
- Don’t assume it’s safe to cross
When a crosswalk is available and you have a signal telling you that it’s okay to cross, you may walk out into traffic without considering that you could be hit. Don’t ever assume that it is safe to cross. Drivers who drive through a red light or who don’t stop before entering the crosswalk could end up hitting you.
- Watch out for drivers making left-hand turns
In a study out of California, it was found that around 40% of traffic deaths in San Francisco were a result of drivers making left-handed turns and not seeing pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Fortunately, you can take steps to be seen and to make sure you don’t end up in a dangerous situation. Wear bright colors. Make noise. If you see a driver is preparing to turn, try to make eye contact. If they don’t seem to see you, don’t walk out into the roadway.
- Consider staying in a group
While it might not always be possible, one last thing that will help you stay safe and avoid crashes is walking in a group. When you cross in a group, there is a better chance that you’ll be seen by drivers. On top of that, you’ll have more people looking out for you since everyone will be watching for drivers who might violate the traffic laws.
These are a few ways that you can prevent accidents. As a pedestrian, you do have a right to be on the roads so long as you are following the traffic laws. Be safe, and you can help everyone get where they’re going without incident.