1. General Rules for Walking Near Traffic
People who like to walk should make a habit of using sidewalks whenever possible. Walkers on streets with no sidewalks should always walk toward oncoming traffic at a safe distance beside the road. This enables the walker to see vehicles as they approach instead of allowing the cars to come up from behind them. When walking at night, pedestrians should wear light-colored clothing or reflective tape crisscrossed on the outermost garment to identify themselves to oncoming traffic. Carrying a flashlight can also easily identify a walker to drivers.
2. Crossing the Street
Crossing the street requires visual confirmation that the path is clear. Even when using crossing signals, walkers should look left, right and left again before entering an intersection. Looking both ways can prevent auto-on-pedestrian accidents. Children under age ten should cross streets with an adult while learning to look for traffic before and during the cross. Adults should keep in mind that young children often confuse their left and right and can forget to look correctly before stepping into traffic. All walkers should cross streets at a corner and use crosswalks when available.
3. Avoid Alcohol
People who walk near traffic should avoid consuming alcohol beforehand. Alcohol contributes to a fatality in one-third of all pedestrian deaths in people at least 16 years old. Over half of the adults who die as pedestrians have a blood alcohol level higher than the legal limit. Impaired judgment, loss of balance and forgetfulness can contribute to the death of a pedestrian who drinks too much. Walking after consuming alcohol becomes even more dangerous at night, when drivers find it difficult to see walkers.
4. Identify Yourself
Walkers should carry some identification in case of an emergency. Tying a name tag to a shoe or wearing an identification tag around the neck can aid emergency responders after an accident. These tags should include a phone number for a contact person in case the walker is unresponsive. Medical alert bracelets or necklaces offer physicians information about allergies or medical conditions. This information can aid in treatment by making a physician aware of possible complications caused by standard care.
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