Both drivers and pedestrians have equally important roles in safety for pedestrians. Drivers must follow the rules of the road while pedestrians can take actions to prevent being hit by vehicles. Both must practice defensive measures to ensure safety for all.
Here is some advice for both drivers and pedestrians.
Driver advice
- On a two-lane road, give pedestrians plenty of time to fully complete the crossing before entering the crosswalk.
- On a multi-lane, divided road, a vehicle may enter the crosswalk on the opposite side of the road from a pedestrian.
Drive at a safe speed and be aware of pedestrian activity around you. Never pass a vehicle at a crosswalk. Wait until the pedestrian has completely cleared the intersection before proceeding unless on a divided roadway. Make eye contact. When turning left at an intersection, check to your left to make sure there are no pedestrians.- Drivers must obey the rules of the road and keep a proper lookout for other vehicles and pedestrians. There are specific actions each driver can take to reduce or eliminate the risk of injuring a pedestrian.
- Watch for pedestrians walking along the side of the road or on sidewalks who might cross the street
- When making a turn, drivers should look for pedestrians crossing in their path
- Reduce speed near schools, playgrounds, residential neighborhoods and other locations where children might cross the street or dart out
- Drivers should wait until the pedestrian has crossed to the other side of the road before proceeding unless on a divided roadway.
- Keep a lookout for people crossing the street near bus stops
Pedestrian advice
Pedestrians cannot rely solely on drivers to keep them safe when crossing or walking along the street. Some of the actions pedestrians can take to prevent collisions with vehicles include:
Cross the street at an intersection and not in the middle of the road unless there is a designated pedestrian crossover- If going out in the late afternoon or evening when it is getting dark, do not wear dark clothing. Dress in bright colors or add reflective tape to clothing to improve visibility.
- Obey traffic control devices when crossing the street
- Watch out for vehicles when crossing the street. This includes keeping a lookout for turning vehicles.
- When walking through parking lots or crossing driveways, maintain a lookout for vehicles backing up.