By Leon Krolikowski, Chief of Police
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to transportation, but there’s one that all road users share—everyone is a pedestrian. Unfortunately, pedestrians are one of the few groups of road users to experience an increase in fatalities in the United States. In 2011, 4,432 pedestrian were killed in accidents.
In New Canaan, both pedestrians and drivers do not obey laws and signals consistently and many often use cellphones while walking or driving. In one study, only 60 percent of pedestrians said they expected drivers to stop when they were in crosswalks, even though they have the right-of-way. As a pedestrian, you are at a major disadvantage when crossing streets, intersections and standing on corners. You are not always visible to drivers.
Thus far, in 2014, our department has investigated 519 accidents. Several of these accidents involved pedestrians and in some cases the pedestrian did not follow the law and/or good safety practices.
Many pedestrians and drivers are not following the law and are compromising traffic safety. As such, here are some tips that can keep you safe.
Watch your walkways
- Walk on sidewalks and in crosswalks whenever possible. It is important to pay attention to walk signals and keep a safe distance when standing on street corners.
Know your no-zones
- Be careful of the blind spots, or “No-Zones”, around cars, trucks, and buses when walking near or around them. Always assume the driver does not know that you are there.
Stopping distances
- Use caution when crossing intersections and streets. You may think vehicles will stop for you, but they may not see you or even be able to stop. Remember, trucks, cars, motorcycles and bicyclists, all have different stopping capabilities.
Make yourself visible
- Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially when walking at night. Dressing to be seen will make it safer for you and drivers. Carry a flashlight at night.
Pedestrians Should
- Avoid walking in the dark and during bad weather such as snow, ice, rain or fog.
- Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks or intersections, and obey signs and signals.
- Cross only at street corners, preferably those with a traffic light and within marked crosswalks.
- Don’t text or talk on your cellphone when walking.
- Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.
- Make eye contact with drivers as they approach. Never assume a driver sees you.
- Pay attention to “Walk/Don’t Walk” signals.
- Walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible if there is no sidewalk.
- Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials (or use a flashlight) at night.
Drivers Should
- Be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, especially young children, can move across your path.
- Look out for pedestrians, especially in hard-to-see conditions such as at night or in bad weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk.
- Stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to the pedestrians.
Parents Should
- Conduct a walkability checklist of your favorite walking routes in your neighborhood. See www.nhtsa. gov/Driving+Safety/Pedestrians/ Walkability+Checklist.
- Teach young children right-of-way rules and safe pedestrian behaviors.
- Visit NHTSA’s Parents Central for information for young children. See www.safercar.gov/parents/ walking.htm
Additional Resources
- http://www.nhtsa.gov/Pedestrians
- http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/Pedestrian_Safety/factsheet.html
- http://www.sharetheroadsafely.org/pedestrians/pedestrianSafety.asp