4 Ways to Support Pedestrian Safety

With the weather getting frightful, and the days getting shorter, it’s more important than ever to advocate for the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents can result in life-altering and sometimes fatal injuries. When you’re on the road, it’s important to take reasonable precautions in order to ensure that you don’t harm pedestrians. If you are a pedestrian, it’s equally important that you conduct yourself in a manner that prioritizes your physical safety. And remember, just because you can see the car, doesn’t mean that the driver can see you. Unfortunately, many drivers neglect to pay attention to the road, and some may not be looking for pedestrians while driving. 

Get Your Headlights On 

Now that winter is almost here, it’s starting to get darker much earlier. By the time most people are driving home from work, it’s either dusk, or completely dark. Because of this, it’s much more difficult to spot pedestrians when they’re driving, especially if they’re wearing dark clothes. For this reason, it’s important to have your headlights on and in working condition. If your headlights stop working, it’s important to stop by an auto shop and get them replaced. Even if you’re only driving on the freeway, it’s important to have your headlights working. While there should not be any pedestrians to look out for on the freeway, other cars may not be able to see you if your headlights aren’t working. 

Look before You Turn 

Whether you’re turning right or left, it’s important to look for pedestrians, especially now that it’s getting darker earlier. Just because you have the right of way doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to turn without looking for pedestrians. Plenty of pedestrians cross the street without looking to see whether or not there are cars turning, or whether or not the cross-walk signal is telling them to turn. Therefore it’s important to always make sure that there is nobody in the cross-walk when you’re turning. You may have a greenlight when turning left but, while you have a green light, a pedestrian may have the right of way. When turning left, make sure that there are no pedestrians that currently have the right of way. 

Slow Down 

If you’re driving home at night, it may be advisable to go a little slower than you’re used to, especially if the roads are in snowy, icy, or otherwise dangerous conditions. If a pedestrian is walking in front of your car, you’ll want to have the ability to come to a complete stop so you don’t hit them and cause them to sustain injury. A lot of people wonder, can jaywalking pedestrians sue? While it will depend on the specific facts of the case, it is technically possible for jaywalking pedestrians to file a claim against a driver. After all, drivers do have an obligation to look for people in the middle of the road—even if they aren’t technically supposed to be there. 

Get Off Your Phone 

Using your phone while driving is never advisable, and should always be avoided. Although many people know this, they tend to use their phone while driving in areas with lower speed limits, such as side streets, parking lots, and residential areas. Their reasoning is that it’s safer to use a phone here because the speed limits are lower and, therefore they can come to a complete stop more quickly. However, while the speed limits may be lower, they’re usually lower because there are more pedestrians. Using your phone in places where there are more likely to be pedestrians is not at all more safe than using your phone on the freeway. If you’re operating a motor vehicle, you should not be operating a cellphone. It does not matter where you’re driving. 

Be a Safe Pedestrian 

In order to prevent pedestrian fatalities, everyone needs to work together. You can promote safety by ensuring that you take reasonable precautions when you’re walking in areas where there are cars. Use sidewalks whenever possible. If there are not sidewalks consider taking a different route. In some places, it is illegal for pedestrians to walk on freeways and highways. Make sure to follow your local laws. If you’re using a crosswalk, make sure that you’re given the walk signal. Even when you’re given the walk signal, it’s a good idea to make sure there are no cars coming toward you. 

When You Need a Pedestrian Accident Attorney 

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, Moxie Law Group is here for you. Our dedicated pedestrian accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you need. Contact us today for a free consultation.