Updated on: 11/7/2019
As a pedestrian on busy roads where cars are driving, never be too confident in your surroundings. Many pedestrians assume ‘oh, that car will stop for me so I will walk across the road.’ But – many times that is not the case. Take safety precautions.
- Always walk on sidewalks, or walk facing the flow of traffic if there is no sidewalk. Use pedestrian bridges – they are there for a reason.
- Only cross roads at market crosswalks or intersections. Based on statistics, pedestrians are most often hit by cars when cross the road at places other than intersections.
- Look left, right, and left for oncoming traffic. Always follow traffic signals.
- Even though you can see car coming towards you, does not mean that car can see you. They cannot avoid you if they cannot see you. Do not walk in their blind spot, make eye contact with drivers, wear bright or reflective clothing, carry a flashlight in the dark, do not let your children play near traffic at night and take your umbrella in bad weather.
- Always watch your kids. Kids cannot accurately judge vehicle distances and speeds.
- Alcohol can impair the judgment and motor skills of pedestrians. Take the bus, or take a cab.
- Obey traffic signals.