Thousands of pedestrians are hit by motor vehicles every year. While some of these pedestrians may walk away with fairly minor injuries, others may suffer life-threatening injuries. It’s necessary for most people to walk at some point, so it’s important to be safe about it. Here are a few safety tips for pedestrians.
Walk on Sidewalks
Sidewalks are there for a reason, so you should use them as a pedestrian. If there’s an area without sidewalks and you’re forced to walk on the street, at least walk in the direction of oncoming traffic.
Don’t Give Into Distractions
Just like motorists, pedestrians should be alert at all times. That means you shouldn’t give into distractions. While listening to music with your headphones might make your walk more pleasurable, it can increase your chances of getting hurt. If you’re distracted by the music, you might not see or hear drivers on the road.
Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Street
It’s likely that you learned this rule when you were a small child. However, as adults, we sometimes forget about these basic rules and think we know it all. Even if you’re walking across a residential street with few vehicles, it’s still important to look left and right before crossing the street.
Obey Traffic Signals
Motorists aren’t the only ones who should obey traffic signals at all times. It’s equally important for you as a pedestrian to follow these signals, like the “walk” and “don’t walk” signals. While it might seem fine to ignore these signals if you don’t see any cars coming, it’s still best to be on the safe side. You just never know if a car will approach suddenly around the corner.
Increase Your Visibility
Motorists aren’t always looking out for pedestrians and might not see you if you’re too inconspicuous. This is especially true when it’s dark outside. That’s why you should do everything you can to become more visible to motorists. For example, when you plan on walking somewhere, wear bright clothes. If it’s nighttime, bring a flashlight.
Be Cautious Around Turning Vehicles
When motorists make turns on the road, they may have a more difficult time noticing pedestrians crossing. That’s why you should be especially careful around turning vehicles. Try to make eye contact with the driver if you can.
If you were hit by a motorist while crossing the street, a personal injury lawyer, like one from Therman Law Offices, LTD., can help.
