Sharing the Road with Pedestrians
Pedestrians
- Scan the street for wheels and feet: Be especially careful to look for people walking and biking before turning at intersections into driveways.
- Be attentive: Stay alert and slow down, in residential areas, commercial areas, and especially school zones. Children, particularly, have not yet developed the cognitive skills to calculate speed and distance.
- Yield to pedestrians: Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections – it’s the law. Crosswalks exist at all intersections even when unmarked. Pay attention to the pedestrian signal and give people walking the right-of-way.
- Double threat: Never pass another vehicle that has stopped or is slowing down for a pedestrian. Remember, you might not be able to see the pedestrian when you approach a stopped vehicle so be aware.
Lowering speeds can save lives.
People walking and biking are much more vulnerable if hit by a car.
Source: Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death. Brian Tefft, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2011
Speed is everything
When driving in highly trafficked areas, like urban and town centers, as well as arterial roads, your speed can be a matter of life and death for you, fellow motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Follow speed limits and respect all road users.