Safety Tips for Pedestrians

Be Safe and Be Seen: Make yourself visible to drivers

• Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials.
• Carry a flashlight when walking at night.
• Cross the street in a well-lit area at night.
• Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.
• Click here for Bright at Night!

Be Smart and Alert: Avoid dangerous behaviors

• Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
• Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
• Don’t assume vehicles will stop. Make contact with drivers, don’t just look at the vehicle. If a driver is on a cell phone, he or she may not be paying enough attention to drive safely.
• Don’t rely solely on pedestrian signals. Look before you cross the road.
• Be alert to engine noise or back up lights on cars when in parking lots and near other on-street parking spaces.

Be Careful at Crossings: Look before you step

• Cross streets at marked crosswalk or intersections, if possible.
• Obey traffic signals such as WALK/DON’T WALK signs.
• Look left, right, and left again fefore crossing a street.
• Watch for turning vehilces. Make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
• Look across ALL lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before proceeding. Even if one motorist stops, do not presume drivers in other lanes can see you and will stop for you.
• Don’t wear headphones or talk on a cell phone while crossing.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians, from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center