Our Top 5 Pedestrian Safety Tips
Pedestrian safety is everyone’s responsibility, and should be everyone’s concern. It’s easy, however, to become desensitized to the dangers urban environments can present to pedestrians. It’s equally easy, in our modern world, to become distracted in the crucial moment when your attention is most essential. Accidents don’t just happen in bad weather, low light, unfamiliar streets. Becoming too familiar, too safe in the street can mean danger for either a driver or a pedestrian. In 2023, almost 18% of all traffic fatalities in the US were pedestrians. That’s over seven thousand people, almost one in every five people killed in traffic. Lowering that number begins with each of us, working together. Today’s Malloy Law blog post will provide our top five pedestrian safety tips. We hope these make you a more informed traveler on two feet.
1.) Phones Down, Heads Up
Our attention is pulled in more simultaneous directions than any generation in recorded history. We live a hyper-connected, hyper-scheduled existence. Taking time to check messages, social media, and various other channels of communication is so natural that it doesn’t even register as a distraction to many. Why should it? Walking with your head in your phone is perfectly safe, until it isn’t. By the time you reach that point, you may already be a victim of a pedestrian accident caused by your inattention.
Walking while distracted by a phone already puts you at increased risk of tripping or bumping into another pedestrian. But when you draw near an intersection, this risk increases to a life-threatening extent. Keeping your phone in your pocket while in motion goes a long way towards ensuring everyone’s safety. In fact, it may also be advisable to remove any headphones or ear phones while crossing. You may hear danger before you see it.
2.) Where the Sidewalk Ends
Sidewalks are best when available. They’re purpose built for pedestrians and provide vital distance between people and traffic. However, they’re not always available. When you find yourself without a sidewalk or other safe way to move down a street or alley, walk facing traffic. It’s also advisable to wearing bright colors or reflective fabrics to ensure maximum visibility to traffic.
3.) Proper Crossing Prevents Pedestrian Pain
Jaywalking is irresponsible, physically risky, and as we covered on a previous edition of this blog, potentially catastrophic in legal terms. Pedestrians should cross at designated crosswalks and obey all traffic lights and posted signs. Ensure that children younger than 10 years of age are accompanied by an adult when crossing. If you cannot locate a crosswalk, ensure that you are able to see oncoming traffic, and ensure that roads are clear before crossing. We also recommend making eye contact with any oncoming driver while crossing, to ensure that they see you and respect your rights as a pedestrian.
4.) Parking Lot Procedure
Parking lots and garages can easily become danger zone for pedestrian accidents. This is one area where the reduced situation awareness caused by phone use or other distractions can be especially costly. Cars can emerge from behind blind corners or reverse out of parking spaces without making a proper check of their surroundings, endangering anyone behind them.
5.) Old Reliable
Like most American children, we were taught the oldest and most often repeated pedestrian safety tips at a very young age. Sing along now if you know the words:
“Look both ways before you cross.”
It sounds obvious, but that moment’s pause can and has saved lives. It continues to do so every day.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, Malloy Law Offices can help. Our experienced team of attorneys is home to DC, Maryland, and Virginia’s pedestrian accident specialists. We’ll investigate and evaluate every aspect of your accident free of charge and fight for maximum recovery of lost wages, medical bills, and account for pain and suffering while you recover from your injury. Contact Malloy Law today, and let’s win your case.