A new report attempts to reduce instances of vehicle on pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the Delmarva Peninsula area on the East Coast. However, the tips on offer would be applicable here in California as well. As the report states, vehicles of all types were involved in the incidents, and vehicle operators and persons on foot alike were to blame for the litany of crashes.
Pedestrians are first told to exercise caution anytime their travels bring them around particularly busy thoroughfares. Before entering a crosswalk, pedestrians need to look both ways and verify that no automobiles are barreling down the road. Although a person on foot is always supposed to have the right of way in a crosswalk, it doesn’t always play out that way. A pedestrian should always be sure of a driver’s intentions before crossing the street.
Drivers also have to do their part to encourage safety. If a pedestrian is at a crosswalk and looks ready to cross the street, slow down. Don’t just take for granted that they’re going to stay positioned because you’re going fast. The same goes for an individual on a bicycle.
Finally, enhancing visibility will become particularly important when the weather is poor. Windshield wipers and headlights alike should be on so that pedestrians will be adequately illuminated. Drivers should constantly be scanning the road at these and all other times.