Walk Safe As A Pedestrian
With summer in full swing, many Mainers are putting their feet to use. Whether it’s before work, after work or on the way to work, walking is en vogue again.
The benefits of a summer stroll are numerous. Be it on the beach, around the block or on the boulevard, walking as little as 30 minutes a day improves one’s overall wellbeing. Exercise helps maintain body weight and blood pressure, lowers the risk of stroke, diabetes and cancer, and fresh air and vitamin D are good for the soul. Walking can also assist in treating anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, and arthritis.
But with walking comes the risk of injury as a pedestrian. The dangers may be small, but the results can be much more serious than shin splints. In 2008, pedestrians accounted for 8 percent of traffic related fatalities in Maine.
At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we see firsthand the results of accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians. The outcomes are why we’d like to pass along some safety tips to both drivers and pedestrians. By following these recommendations this summer, your walks will be both rewarding and refreshing.
For Pedestrians:
- Use sidewalks where provided. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
- Avoid walking on highways and busy roads.
- Dress so drivers can see you. Wear light colored clothing and reflective material at night. Carrying a flash light in dark areas is also advised.
- Be wary of drivers, as they may have a lapse in concentration and not see you.
- Always cross a street in a designated cross walk, using extra caution for multilane and busy roads. Pedestrians must always yield to the driver except when in a crosswalk.
- Never jaywalk.
- Always hold your child’s hand when crossing the street.
- Look both ways before crossing the street.
- Drugs and alcohol can affect your ability to walk just as they can to drive.
For Drivers:
- Expect the unexpected. You never know where or when you’ll encounter a pedestrian.
- Be prepared and always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Never pass vehicles stopped for pedestrians.
- While waiting to turn, be sure no pedestrians have come in your path. Like pedestrians, look both ways when pulling out into traffic.
- Be attentive in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present. Though taught to look both ways, children are capable of running into the road at any given time.
- Do not assume the pedestrian sees you. They, too, may have a lapse in concentration or judgment.
With no protection between you and a car, it’s important to be safe while walking along the road. By taking the time to educate yourself both as a driver and a pedestrian, you’ll not only feel better the next time you go for a walk, you’ll feel better when you get home.
So let your two feet be your set of wheels this summer, even if for as little as 30 minutes a day. The relaxation and rejuvenation may just be the prescription your enjoyment’s looking for.
For more information on the benefits of walking as well as pedestrian safety, please visit: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/ped/.
