Vehicle vs. the pedestrian

If a pedestrian goes up against a vehicle, the vehicle is always going to win. It is a weight/size ratio thing.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has posted the 2007 Pedestrian Traffic Safety Fact Sheet figures. Overall pedestrian accidents are down (the fact sheet gives figures from 1997-2007). That is good news, but there are still thousands of incidents each year that have proved fatal. Evenings and weekends are especially dangerous, and children and the elderly most affected. Males are hit more often than women. All interesting facts, but the most important thing for both drivers and pedestrians to remember is to be safe and stay alert to stay alive. Here are some tips and reminders to drivers:

• Pedestrians have the right-of-way. Even if you think the pedestrian is doing something irresponsible, or annoying, slow down and/or stop for a person on foot.
• Be aware of elderly people, who are the most often hit and killed. They might be scared and unaware, so be on the lookout.
• Before turning onto a new road or passing through a crosswalk, look for pedestrians. Turning and yeilding are often the times when pedestrians are hit.
• Keeps your eyes and attention on the road. Many pedestrians are hit by people changing the radio, talking on the phone, texting, or people who are otherwise distracted.
• Keep mind of the time, most child fatalities or injuries happen after school between 3 and 7pm.

Some tips and reminders to pedestrians:

• The car is bigger than you. Use caution before stepping out into the road. Even if you do have the right-of-way, that doesn’t mean that the driver sees you. They could be distracted or could just not see you.
• Use a crosswalk if it is available.
• Look thoroughly both ways BEFORE making your first steps into the roadway.
• Walk on the sidewalk when available, and if there isn’t one, then walk on the side facing traffic.
• Be extra careful at night. A pedestrian is difficult to see, so wear reflective clothing.
• During rainstorms streetlights and headlights reflect light onto the windshield and make it difficult to see pedestrians.