Pedestrian Safety: Tips For Drivers And Pedestrians

In the United States, a pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes in car crashes in 2019. That is a statistic not many of us think about, especially when it comes to car crashes. You think car crashes and you would assume any deaths would involve people inside the vehicles, not pedestrians on the streets.

However, there were 6,205 pedestrians killed in 2019 and an estimated 76,000 pedestrians injured nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. We all want to encourage safer walking environments and a good way to do that is by following the tips recommended below for both drivers and walkers.

8 Safety Tips For Drivers

If drivers are maintaining safe speeds and practicing other safe driving behaviors, then a safer walking environment is created. Here are some safety tips for drivers to help promote pedestrian safety:

1. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Make sure to stop well behind the crosswalk to give other vehicles the opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
2. Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.
3. Slow down and always be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
4. Never pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can't see.
5. Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
6. Always follow the speed limit, especially when driving around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are out playing.
7. Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.
8. Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

8 Safety Tips For Walkers

On the flip side of things, pedestrians need to keep safety on top of mind when they are outside walking. Here are some safety tips for walkers to follow to keep them safe on the streets:

1. Obey signs and signals and follow the rules of the road.
2. Cross the street at crosswalks or intersections. When doing so, look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
3. If there is no crosswalk or intersection available, find a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that will allow you enough time to cross safely. As you cross, continue to watch for traffic.
4. Walk on the sidewalk whenever they are available.
5. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
6. Keep an eye out for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
7. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking. They impair your abilities and your judgment.
8. Embrace the fact that walking is a healthy form of transportation. Get up, get out and get moving!

With both sides focused on pedestrian safety, we can all work together to get those fatality numbers down!

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.