Submitted By Jody Van Cooney
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. Pedestrians also include people riding skate boards, are on roller skates, or are in wheelchairs.
As the school year approaches, both children and adults will be waking more in both the morning and afternoon hours. Drivers and pedestrians alike share the responsibility of keeping themselves and others on the road safe. Safety is a two-way street. Often pedestrians are not where they should be or where you would expect them to be.
Thirty-two percent of pedestrian fatalities occur between 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. Unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 5 to 19. Teenagers have a death rate twice that of younger children
Regardless of where and when children and adults are walking, the Injury Prevention Coalition of Lee County provides these simple tips to make sure you get to your destination safely.
Do’s
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners using traffic signals and crosswalks.
- If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Cross at the street corner and walk on the painted area (zebra lines).
- If possible, make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- During school operation hours, follow the directions of the school crossing guards.
- Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Continue looking until safely across.
- Put phones, headphones, and devices down when crossing the street.
- Wear bright, reflective colors at night.
- Have a flashlight or other method of letting cars know you’re there!
Don’ts
- Never walk or run between parked or moving cars or in parking lots.
- Never assume that the driver sees you.
In other words, be visible; stay alert and avoid distractions; follow the rules; walk in safe places; and adults should avoid alcohol consumption and not drive under the influence
The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition serves as a collaborative effort or partnership whose function is to facilitate partners’ work and act as a catalyst for injury prevention initiatives. Its mission is to prevent injury, disability, and death through advocacy, education, legislation, and partnerships.
