Keep Pedestrians Safe Near Roadways

People choose to walk for a variety of reasons. Walking is a good form of exercise, so many people walk to contribute to an overall healthy lifestyle. Others walk because of lack of access to a motor vehicle or because of the impracticality of using a motor vehicle to reach their final destination. Finally, some people cite environmental reasons for choosing to walk rather than driving.No matter their reason for walking, pedestrians are in danger when walking near traffic. Motorists can help keep pedestrians free from harm by taking extra steps to ensure their safety:
Watch for pedestrians in residential areas and neighborhoods. In these areas, people are likely to walk for exercise, often in the late afternoon or early evening when light conditions hinder visibility.
Look out for children near schools and bus stops. Children may not think to obey common safety procedures around roadways, and a small child in the road or crossing behind a vehicle in reverse is more difficult to see than a larger adult.
Look for bright and reflective clothing, as well as small light sources. Prepared walkers should take steps to make themselves highly visible to motorists.
Watch for walkers on both sides of the road. Safe walkers should know to walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic, so that they can better see and be seen.
Look out for jaywalkers in larger cities. Just because a person is supposed to cross in certain areas does not mean that he or she will.
Stop for pedestrians at designated crossing areas, such as crosswalks, stop lights, and stop signs.
If pedestrians try to cross in front of your vehicle, make eye contact and give a nod or a wave to acknowledge their presence so that they know you see them and that it is safe to cross in front of you.
Talk to kids about staying safe near traffic, especially if your child must walk to and from the bus stop or school or if your home is located near a busy roadway.
Unfortunately, even if motorists take proper precautions to keep pedestrians safe, accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles can still occur. Sometimes they are they fault of a negligent driver, while in other instances, the accident could have been prevented if the pedestrian had been following proper safety procedures, such as crossing only at crosswalks or wearing bright, reflective clothing.To learn more about safety and accident prevention, visit the website of the Rhinelander car accident attorneys of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.