Driver's Training Tips: Pedestrian Safety For New Drivers

While teenagers are excited to get their driver's license and hit the road alone for the first time, this new adventure comes with responsibilities. You are now a new driver and you have to keep the safety of yourself and your passengers in mind, but also the safety of pedestrians around you. We are sharing some driving tips for new drivers to keep in mind when it comes to pedestrian safety.

Anticipate The Unexpected

When it comes to pedestrians, you should always be ready for the unexpected. Pedestrians are not only adults, but also children too. They could come running into the street at any moment, so always be ready. You should also not assume that pedestrians are aware of your presence. It is better to assume that they aren't paying attention to where you are at and how fast you are going.

Pay Attention To Road Signs

As a driver, you need to keep an eye out for street signs that indicate you are near a school. Depending on the time of day, you could see a huge increase in the number of pedestrians and cars in that area. You are definitely going to see an increase in the number of pedestrians on the sidewalk and possibly in the road also.

Slow Down

For car crashes involving pedestrians, speed is a huge factor in fatalities taking place. Speeding can cause the car crash to happen in the first place, since you don't have as much control over the vehicle at higher speeds. Then the pedestrian is less likely to survive when hit at a higher speed.

If you are driving in an area where there are a lot of pedestrians, whether they are walking or riding bikes, you need to slow down immediately. As a driver, you need to be prepared to stop your vehicle if necessary.

Make Eye Contact

It may sound creepy, but making eye contact with the pedestrian is a great way to make sure they noticed you. By knowing they saw you, they are less likely to walk out in front of your vehicle and instead let you pass them by.

Imagine A Crosswalk At All Intersections

When approaching an intersection, it is best to always assume there is an imaginary crosswalk there. It may not actually be there, but assume that pedestrians will be using this imaginary crosswalk to cross the road. Your speed should reflect this imaginary crosswalk too, as you should be able to stop safely if someone were to step off the curb to cross the street using this imaginary crosswalk.

While there is crosswalk etiquette, not every pedestrian follows these rules. As a driver, you shouldn't trust someone waiting on the sidewalk. You never know if they will stand there and wait for you to pass or start walking, so assume they will start walking and stop for them.

The best way to avoid these crashes and keep pedestrians safe on the road is to follow the rules of the road and practice good driving habits. And keep these driving tips in mind when behind the wheel!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.