There are many things that we do every day that affect our health and safety in ways that we don’t think about. Walking is one of them.
There are a lot of health benefits of walking. Walking can reduce stress and improve our mental health. It also reduces our risk of heart disease, diabetes and many other health problems.
Unfortunately, there are some safety risks with walking as well. Many pedestrians are involved in accidents each year, which can lead to death or serious injuries. Sadly, many of these accidents could have easily been prevented.
Your Health and Safety Depends on Making Smart Decisions When Walking
We become even more exposed to accidents when walking as pedestrians. According to research, in 2021, approximately 8,984 pedestrians died in traffic and non-traffic incidents.
Now, some of these deaths could have been prevented if people took the right precautions to get treatment after the accident. However, it is a lot better to fully avoid the accident in the first place.
Fortunately, there are ways that you can keep yourself safe as a pedestrian. Let’s consider a few safety tips for pedestrians.
Walk on the sidewalk
When walking, it’s always important that you walk on the sidewalk. If you’re in an area without a sidewalk, you should walk while facing the flow of traffic. By walking and facing traffic, you can avoid putting your life at risk and avoid any situations where cars could come up from behind you.
Follow the rules
You need to be careful to not ignore the road, especially during heavy traffic. Obeying all the traffic signs and signals will increase your odds of being safe while on the road. It’s important that you do not walk carelessly on the road and ignore any road safety signs.
You must also make sure that your children follow the rules as well. Children accounted for 14% of all pedestrian deaths, partly because their parents didn’t make sure they were following the laws.
Crosswalks
The Oakland pedestrian accident attorneys at Milanfar Law Firm recommend that you use the crosswalk to cross the street safely. Even if they happen to be far away, it’s important that you use the crosswalks when crossing the road. Doing the opposite by crossing in the middle of the road will put your life at risk, and is also considered jaywalking.
Rule of thumb
Do not assume that because you are a pedestrian, the driver on the road has seen you. Before you cross the road, try to see if the driver is paying attention and not distracted while driving.
Look left and right.
Another way to keep yourself safe as a pedestrian is to look both ways while crossing the road. No matter how empty a street or lane looks, you should look both ways before you start crossing the road. You never know when a speedy vehicle may come out of nowhere.
Stay Alert
It is unfortunately common for pedestrians to become victims of an accident because their eyes are not on the road but on their mobile phones. Even if you’re listening to music when you’re walking, try to pay attention to where you’re walking and if you’re walking at the right time.
Even though it is important to keep your ears open when you’re walking, since you can’t hear when vehicles are approaching or if someone calls out for you. The same goes for using mobile phones. Even if you’re walking on the sidewalk, you should avoid using your phone since you could trip and fall off the sidewalk.
Avoid alcohol
One of the worst mistakes individuals make when walking on the street is being drunk or under the influence of drugs when walking. In both cases, you are putting both you and the driver’s life at risk. You should make sure that you are completely sober when walking on the street, and drink more responsibly.
Wear bright colors
You should try to wear bright colors, especially if you’re going to be walking at night. Such colors help in catching the attention of the driver from a distance. Plus, if you are out at night and it’s really dark, then consider using neon bands for your safety. Reflective bands are especially useful, since other can easily spot you in the darkness.
Watch for cars
Watch for cars while entering or exiting from the driveways or even when they are backing up in parking lots for your protection.
Adult Supervision For Children
It is strongly suggested that children younger than ten should be escorted by an adult when crossing the street. Keep them and yourself out of danger.
Hopefully these tips can help you stay safe while you’re walking on the street. If you implement them regularly, then you can greatly improve your odds of staying safe on the road. Being careful can go a long way in keeping you safe while on the road.