ROAD SAFETY – PEDESTRIANS

Nearly 1 in 5 of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes every year in BC are pedestrians.1

OVERVIEW

A pedestrian is any person involved in an incident who, at the time of the incident, was not riding in or on a motor vehicle or bicycle. This includes being on foot, making adjustments to the outside of a vehicle, using a baby stroller, walker, wheelchair, roller skates, scooter, skateboard, skis, or sled.

As a pedestrian, you can take some precautions to ensure your safety on the road. Fatalities among pedestrians are most common in speed zones of 30-50 km/hr. Common contributing factors to pedestrian fatalities at these speeds are driver distraction and failing to yield to right-of-way.1 Pedestrian injury hospitalization rates were highest among older adults aged 75 and over.

Approximately 3/4 of all motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians occur at intersections.1

Prevention tips for pedestrians:

  • Stay alert and attentive: Focus your full attention on what is happening around you. Put your phone away. Look both ways before entering the intersection, even if the crosswalk signal is giving you the go-ahead.
  • Look them in the eye: Always make eye contact with drivers. Never assume that a driver has seen you and will stop.

Prevention tips for drivers:

  • Stay alert and attentive: Focus on the road and always leave your phone alone while driving. Watch for pedestrians waiting at crosswalks, and look closely when making turns to check that there is no one in your path, especially when negotiating traffic to make a left-hand turn.
  • Let them go ahead: Yield to pedestrians, especially when turning at intersections.

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