Pedestrian Safety
We're so glad you wanted to take a walk with us. Walking is great exercise, you can go almost anywhere on your own two feet. Plus, it's free. But walking can also be dangerous. How can you avoid getting into a crash?
Well, let's see.
Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and you have to walk in the road, always walk facing traffic, so you can see any car that might go out of control.
Dress to be seen. Brightly colored clothing makes it easier for drivers to see you during the daytime. At night, you need to wear special reflective material on your shoes, cap or jacket to reflect the headlights of cars coming towards you.
While fewer in number, pedestrian crashes involving older adults are devastating to their victims. As a general rule, older adults are struck while crossing streets in crosswalks or by drivers making turning movements through crosswalks. Older adults are very law-abiding pedestrians.
Most older adults struck are in good physical condition. They are out on foot, walking for business or pleasure or to maintain their health. Most have many years of healthy life ahead. Still, they are fragile. Being struck by a car is often a death sentence. If they survive the crash, they may be disabled or confined to a nursing home. The victim's life suffers in quality and is severely shortened.
Older adults are very receptive to well crafted safety messages. They need to know about the threats presented by cars making turns. They need to know that choice of footwear (good traction) and more visible clothing (bright and visible) are important factors in protecting themselves.
In 1994, pedestrian crashes took the lives of 1,249 senior adults, ages 65 and older. U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Learn more on the Federal Highway Administration website.
The safety of elderly pedestrians at five urban intersections in Miami, view a press release.
This article focuses on the need for longer traffic walk lights, zoning, and education for the older pedestrian population. This article was written for the Partnership for a Walkable America by Emily Smith of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.
This article focuses on hazardous winter walking conditions and the effect they have on the senior population. This article was written for the Partnership for a Walkable America by Emily Smith of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.
Find pedestrian Information from the Federal Highway Administration website.
Well, let's see.
Safety Tips for Walkers
Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and you have to walk in the road, always walk facing traffic, so you can see any car that might go out of control.
Dress to be seen. Brightly colored clothing makes it easier for drivers to see you during the daytime. At night, you need to wear special reflective material on your shoes, cap or jacket to reflect the headlights of cars coming towards you.
Tips for Crossing the Street
- Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks.
- Stop at the curb, or the edge of the road.
- Stop and look left, then right, then left again, before you step into the street.
- If you see a car, wait until it goes by. Then look left, right and left again until no cars are coming.
- If a car is parked where you are crossing, make sure there is no driver in the car. Then go to the edge of the car and look left-right-left until no cars are coming. Keep looking for cars while you are crossing, and remember, walk. Don't run.
Older Adult Pedestrians
While fewer in number, pedestrian crashes involving older adults are devastating to their victims. As a general rule, older adults are struck while crossing streets in crosswalks or by drivers making turning movements through crosswalks. Older adults are very law-abiding pedestrians.
Most older adults struck are in good physical condition. They are out on foot, walking for business or pleasure or to maintain their health. Most have many years of healthy life ahead. Still, they are fragile. Being struck by a car is often a death sentence. If they survive the crash, they may be disabled or confined to a nursing home. The victim's life suffers in quality and is severely shortened.
Older adults are very receptive to well crafted safety messages. They need to know about the threats presented by cars making turns. They need to know that choice of footwear (good traction) and more visible clothing (bright and visible) are important factors in protecting themselves.
Helpful Links
Focusing On the Senior Pedestrian
In 1994, pedestrian crashes took the lives of 1,249 senior adults, ages 65 and older. U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Learn more on the Federal Highway Administration website.
Give Elderly Pedestrians More Time to Cross Intersections
The safety of elderly pedestrians at five urban intersections in Miami, view a press release.
Hey! Older Pedestrians Need More Time Than That to Cross a Street!
This article focuses on the need for longer traffic walk lights, zoning, and education for the older pedestrian population. This article was written for the Partnership for a Walkable America by Emily Smith of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.
Ice, Snow & Slippery Sidewalks: For Many Seniors, Winter Is "Hip Season"
This article focuses on hazardous winter walking conditions and the effect they have on the senior population. This article was written for the Partnership for a Walkable America by Emily Smith of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.
Focusing On the Senior Pedestrian
Find pedestrian Information from the Federal Highway Administration website.