Everyone Is a Pedestrian

Every day, millions of Americans walk — whether to school, work, a grocery store, or the bus stop. 

When it comes to keeping pedestrians safe, everyone has a responsibility — pedestrians, drivers and all those who use our roads.
 

Know the Basics

8 Walking Safety Tips

1. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
2. Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
3. Do not cross mid-block. Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections.
4. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.
5. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
6. Embrace walking as a healthy form of transportation.
7. When crossing the street, stay alert: check for signs, signals, and the actions of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians around you.
8. Do not rely on others to keep you safe; make eye contact with drivers when possible and wait for a clear, complete stop before crossing.
    

8 More Walking Safety Tips To Share With Kids

1. Find a walking buddy. Children under 10 should not be allowed to cross the street alone. Let children know who can help them cross the street safely — generally adults or siblings over the age of 12.
2. Always cross at the corner or at an intersection and look left-right-left for moving cars.
3. Stop, look and listen. Stay alert when you’re walking—use your eyes and ears to stay safe.
4. Look for moving wheels — even if the car is silent, moving wheels mean the car is about to move or is moving.
5. Always look for the walk signal and wait until it shows “Walk” before you cross. Don’t just follow the crowd — check for yourself and only cross when it’s safe.
6. Always walk — do not run — across the road and keep looking left-right-left for cars while crossing.
7. Some drivers may be distracted. Do not step into the roadway until the driver has stopped. If you can’t see the driver, the driver can’t see you — wait until you can make eye contact and the driver has stopped the car.
8. Always look both ways for traffic before crossing to get on the school bus and after getting off the bus. Doing so is among the most effective ways for kids to prevent pedestrian crashes.
    

8 Safety Tips for Drivers

1. Slow down. Speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder, but everyone on the road around them, including pedestrians.
2. Look out for pedestrians everywhere and minimize blind spots. Learn how to maximize visibility with enhanced mirror settings.
3. Exercise extra caution at nighttime or in bad weather, since pedestrians can be harder to see and may appear suddenly.
4. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the pedestrians so they can stop too.
5. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
6. Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.
7. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
8. Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.
    

8 Common Crash Types Between Pedestrians and Cars

1. Vehicle Makes a Turn at an Intersection: A vehicle turns (right or left) or merges into the path of a pedestrian without yielding.
2. Pedestrian Darts/Steps Out: A pedestrian runs or walks out into the roadway in an unmarked area in the middle of the block (not at a crosswalk or intersection).
3. Pedestrian Walking or Jogging Along the Road: A pedestrian walking or jogging in the road in the same direction as traffic cannot see a vehicle approaching them from behind.
4. Backing Vehicle: A driver fails to look for or see traffic when backing from a driveway, private road or parking lot.
5. Pedestrian Crossing Against Signal: A pedestrian fails to obey the “Don’t Walk” signal or look for traffic before stepping off the curb.
6. Pedestrian Trapped: A pedestrian is in the crosswalk when the traffic signals change and a car fails to yield to the pedestrian already in the crosswalk.
7. Multiple Threat: A car stops for a pedestrian in the crosswalk. A second car approaches, but the driver’s view of the pedestrian is obstructed by another vehicle.
8. Commercial Bus Related: A pedestrian is crossing after exiting a commercial bus that is stopped at a marked bus stop.
    

Additional Resources