Pedestrian Safety Tips For Drivers

The open road can quickly feel crowded once you drive into a metropolitan area. Immediately you are met with bumper to bumper traffic, busy street corners, and pedestrians going in every direction. With the amount of walkers and joggers in your presence, the need for pedestrian safety becomes crucial. 

U.S. pedestrian deaths have hit an all time high in thirty years leading to greater concern for pedestrian safety. From 2009 to 2018, pedestrian fatalities have increased by 53%. This means, pedestrian safety is not only at greater risk, it has become more problematic as car manufacturing has improved. 

Read on to learn useful tips on how to keep pedestrians safe while driving. More notably, find out how to spread awareness on this present-day issue.

7 pedestrian safety tips to consider

These 7 tips are intended to help drivers become more aware of pedestrians. As a driver, it is your responsibility to avoid negligent or distracted driving that could potentially lead to pedestrian injuries or fatalities. 

Here are the best tips to follow for better pedestrian safety:

1. Keep an eye out for pedestrians at all times. For instance, do not assume pedestrians will always cross at a crosswalk. 
2. Abide by the speed limit, especially in congested areas.
3. Yield to pedestrians if you are making a turn. Attempt to make eye contact or some sort of gesture to give them the right away. 
4. Be cautious when reversing. Pedestrians can easily move into your path without any notice. If your car doesn’t have advanced car safety features, this could put you more at risk. 
5. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the NHTSA, an estimated 16% of fatal pedestrian crashes had a driver with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher. 
6. Improve your visibility. Switch out bad headlights for quality ones. Defog your old headlamps to better see approaching pedestrians. 
7. Be cautious of changing weather conditions. When it rains, snows, or tough weather occurs, drivers must keep visibility clear and slow down. 

It’s fair to say these tips can help, but it all depends on the driver. By building awareness for this issue, we hope every driver will do better to prevent accidents from occurring. 

Keeping children safe 

Kids don’t always pay attention or follow the rules. For this reason, school zones were designed to keep them protected. The flashing yellow lights and reduced speed is not just a suggestion. It’s a clear signal to keep pedestrian safety in mind. 

Drivers must always slow down in school zones, follow the speed limit, and keep a watch in areas that are frequented by children. 

Additionally, drivers should never pass a stopped school bus. You might be running late for work or just wanting to get home after a long day, but trying to maneuver around a stopped school bus is a recipe for disaster. Children could always run into the street without thinking. 

In essence, when children are a factor, drivers must be especially cautious and alert. Follow pedestrian signs, listen to crossing guard directions, and remember to keep an attitude of pedestrian safety at all times.  

Learning to share the road  

Whether you live in bustling NYC or reside in a small town, pedestrian safety is always important. There is no better advice than to be attentive and drive responsibly, but due to the increasing concerns over pedestrian safety, it’s about time drivers and pedestrians learn to share the road. 

The growing concern for pedestrian safety warrants every driver’s awareness. The U.S. Department of Transportation has even designated October as National Pedestrian Safety Month in hopes that more drivers will gain awareness and acknowledge this growing issue. 

Walkers Get Recognized: October Is Now National Pedestrian Safety Month via @forbes https://t.co/XFefy9gigp #RoadSafety

— Tanya Mohn (@tanya_mohn) October 1, 2020

With such advancements in safety technologies, it’s concerning there is even a rise in pedestrian accidents in the first place. You can’t help but wonder, is new car tech making us worse drivers? Tell us what you think below.