Road Safety Tips For Pedestrians.
Recent statistics show that in 2008 572 pedestrians were knocked down and killed and 27,910 people were injured across Great Britain. More frighteningly, almost 1 in 5 teenagers report that they have been involved in a road traffic collision or a near miss on their way home from school or college. The common sense approach to road safety is that drivers and pedestrians should share the road in a way that does not put either party at risk. It is essential for both drivers and pedestrians to respect and to be aware of each other for the road to stay a safe place to travel on.
Distractions are one of the main reasons that collisions happen between vehicles and pedestrians. If you are using your mobile phone, or listening to an MP3 player as you cross the road, you could be seriously risking your life and the lives of other road users. If your focus is not completely on the road and the oncoming traffic then you are more at risk of making hasty and dangerous decisions as your judgement is impaired. Another major reason that accidents occur on the roads is driver errors. Therefore, it is important that drivers take extra care to drive safely, but also that pedestrians are aware of the way that the traffic flow works and adhere to road safety guidelines. There are some simple safety precautions that can be followed by both pedestrians and drivers that could drastically reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions that happen every year.
Pedestrians can be very vulnerable on the roads, but there are some simple safety precautions that they can take to reduce the risk of being involved in a collision. Firstly, visibility can be a major issue between pedestrians and car users. If a driver cannot see a pedestrian until the last minute then this will dramatically cut down their reaction time. If they are able to spot the pedestrian in advance then they will have more of a chance of being able to slow down or stop the car to avoid a collision. Therefore, a pedestrian should always try to wear bright clothing, especially at night or on overcast days when visibility is decreased. Preferably the clothing will be high visibility to ensure that you can be seen.
It is the responsibility of the pedestrian to stay alert and to be aware of what is going on around you. You must not assume that a car will stop to let you cross if it is not your right of way. You must be aware of the way that the roads work so that you can anticipate a safe place to cross the road. It is essential to be able to judge how far away and how fast a vehicle is moving so that you can make a safe decision. If you have any doubt that you might not make it in time, then you should not attempt to cross the road at this point. You must wait till the next available and safe opportunity to cross. Sometimes, for whatever reason, a driver may not be in complete control of the vehicle they are driving, and as a pedestrian you should always account for changes in speed and direction of a vehicle.
In the same way that a car user has to follow the rules and regulations of the road system, a pedestrian should always obey the Highway Code. This involves making sure that you are crossing at marked crossings wherever possible. And when you encounter a pedestrian crossing you must be sure that the driver has seen you before you proceed. Make eye contact with the driver if possible, and never assume that a driver has seen you.
Pedestrians should always try to walk on footpaths or nature strips where possible to ensure safety. If there is no such feature, then walk so that you are facing the oncoming traffic. And finally, you must always pay extra attention when you are a pedestrian using the road, as you have no protection if you’re involved in a crash.
If we all strive to follow these simple safety guidelines and take our time when using the roads, then we can greatly reduce the amount of collisions on our roads today. If you have been involved in a road traffic accident as either a pedestrian or a car user that was not your fault, then you may have a case to claim. Contact Accident Consult today to get more information as to whether your claim is likely to be successful or not.
Tags: accidents, distractions, extra care, judgement, oncoming traffic, pedestrian, pedestrians, reaction time, road safety, road traffic, road users, safe place, safety guidelines, safety precautions, traffic collision |
