Safety Tips For Pedestrians And Drivers

February 4, 2020 • By Jessica Torres

Regardless of how careful we are when crossing the road, there is only so much we can control.  We have no control over the speed or carelessness of the vehicles on the roadway and we never know if vehicles will actually slow down when they see us crossing the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a 3 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities in 2018.  The total amount of reported pedestrian fatalities was 6,283.  In Pennsylvania, pedestrian fatalities represent 16.9% of all traffic crash fatalities.

With this rise in pedestrian fatalities, it is vital that you try as best you can to prevent being hit while crossing the road. If you are the motorist, take as many precautions as possible to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
 
Follow these tips for safety:
 
Pedestrians

• Look to both sides before crossing the road. We have all heard it. Unfortunately, we do not all follow this simple rule.

• Do not try and make the flashing red pedestrian light. You are saving a minimal amount of time by crossing the roadway when the light is about to turn red and you are increasing the chances of getting hit by a car.

• Don’t assume a vehicle will stop just because you are on the road. The motorist might not see you in time or might not be able to stop in time for you to finish crossing.

Motorists

• Beware of pedestrians on the road when making a turn. This is especially true in cities where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic.

• Be mindful of weather conditions. When it rains or snows your visibility could be impaired or your vehicle could slide causing a collision with a pedestrian on the roadway.

• Be extra careful in parking lots. It is very common for shoppers to come out of a store and walk towards the parking lot without ensuring that there are no cars on the roadway. 

In the unfortunate event that you have been hit by a motorist, take a minute to go through a mental checklist:
 
1.      Make sure you are okay. Don’t immediately get up and say you are fine. It’s perfectly fine to take a moment and make sure you are not lightheaded or injured. Take note of any injury you may have obtained or any aching you might be experiencing. Note that while you could be feeling okay at the moment, you might feel soreness later.

2.      Don’t be shy in notifying the police. You never know at the moment the implications of the accident and you want to have a record of everything just in case you need it in the future.

3.      Get checked out. No matter how small of an injury, it’s always a good idea to go to the hospital and have a doctor examine you. Many times we don’t realize that we are hurt because we are shocked or distracted by the event.

4.      Get the motorist’s information. Do not forget to get the motorist’s insurance information. Treat this as a regular car accident because you will need this information to file a claim against their insurance.

5.      Contact an attorney as soon as possible. The motorist will contact his or her insurance who will be represented from day one.  An attorney can advise you of whether you have a viable case and help you throughout the process from the start.