subject: Pedestrians Also Need To Guard Against Road Traffic Accidents [print this page] Every road user needs to be aware of the potential for road traffic accidents. Drivers and cyclists should take special care to avoid getting into situations which might put them at risk, but so too must pedestrians.
A pedestrian is always likely to suffer the most serious injuries if they are involved in an accident so this alone should ensure that people think about what they can do to stay safe when they are walking on or close to any road. Following the road safety rules that they were taught as a youngster should always be the first step in staying safe on the road but it never hurts to reiterate these, and to keep focused on where you are walking.
Much like a driver, one of the biggest reasons why pedestrians are involved in road traffic accidents is down to the fact that someone involved is not paying attention. Any one of a number of distractions on the side of the road or listening to music or podcasts on a personal music player can mean that a pedestrian is not giving their full attention to the road when they are walking or attempting to cross. This will increase the risk of being involved in a road traffic accident, so removing earplugs or turning down the volume when needing to cross the road are very sensible steps, which might just save a life.
Keeping focus can be difficult for someone who walks along the same roads every day because it is easy to take things for granted. Just because no road traffic accident has ever been seen on a stretch of road doesnt mean that the possibility can be eliminated. If you cross the road assuming that the roadway is clear, there is a chance that you may find out the hard way that it was not. It only takes a couple of seconds to look properly both ways before crossing the road, so pedestrians should always allow themselves the time to do so. It is also advisable to not cross between parked cars this can impair a walker's view, as well as obscuring large parts of them to passing motorists.
A pedestrian should always look for the safest possible point to cross the road. But if one is not available, always be sure to wait until there is no traffic coming before you attempt to cross. You should also bear in mind that in certain weather or lighting conditions may make it more difficult for a driver to see you crossing the road. Adding something fluorescent or otherwise distinctive to your clothing is a sensible decision which will hopefully keep you safe from harm on the road.
