Pedestrian safety

Safety Tips

2013-11-06 10:32 PST

Both pedestrians and drivers have a responsibility to ensure that both parties remain safe in their travels. Below are some tips that all pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and vehicles should practice.

Pedestrians

• Walk on the inside edge of the sidewalk so you are further away from traffic.  
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.  
• Cross only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Never jay walk.
• Dress to be seen especially at night and on dark/overcast days.  
• Make sure you can hear and see oncoming cars. Remove your headphones and your hood when crossing the street.  
• Make eye contact with drivers. Keep your head up and look where you’re walking. Never assume that drivers see you.  
• Always look for signs that a vehicle is about to move (rear lights, exhaust smoke, sound of motor, wheels turning).

Five tips for parents to teach pedestrian safety to their children:

• Make it fun – Instead of lecturing to your kids, try to make it fun while still treating it as a serious issue.  
• Be a role model – Parents are the number one role model for any young child, so make sure you are setting a good example.  
• Focus on the basics – Kids will digest information about serious issues when it’s simple for them to understand.  
• Mark out safe areas – Focus on teaching your kids where to position themselves when they are around roads to ensure they are in as safe a position as possible.  
• Park it – Parking lots or any areas where cars commonly park require special attention. Remind your kids that vehicles can back up quickly or move without warning.

Drivers

• Vehicles should have their lights on to increase visibility, regardless of the time of day.
• When approaching an intersection, always scan right and left for pedestrians before continuing through.   
• When operating a vehicle, be cautious of pedestrians who may be distracted or unaware of their surroundings (texting, on the phone, headphones in, umbrella or hood blocking their vision).  
• Obey the speed limit – not to avoid tickets but to avoid tragedy.

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