What pedestrians can do to avoid becoming a statistic

According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone dies in a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident every 88 minutes or so, or just shy of every hour and a half. Most of these incidents tend to occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

At some point during your day, you will more than likely be a pedestrian. You may walk from your car into a building and out again. Even parking lots pose dangers to you. Anywhere motorized vehicles and you are in the same place, you are vulnerable. If struck, your injuries could prove severe, since you do not have the protections of those inside the vehicle. In a battle with a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds, you won’t win.

What you can do to increase your safety

You aren’t helpless, however. You can take certain steps to help increase your chances of avoiding this:

• Drinking or using drugs and then walking is not a good idea. You still suffer the same impairments as those who drive impaired.
• Make sure you follow all of the relevant traffic signals and signs. The more easily motorists can predict your behavior, the better.
• Make sure you keep an eye out for vehicles backing up, or those entering or exiting driveways.
• Stay on the sidewalk whenever possible.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far off the roadway as possible to increase your ability to see problems coming your way.
• Make sure motorists can see you by wearing reflective clothing or using a flashlight at night, and wear bright colors during the day.
• Don’t assume drivers are looking for you. As often as possible, make eye contact with motorists to make sure they see you.
• Make sure you aren’t dealing with any distractions. You need to remain vigilant.
• Drivers expect pedestrians at intersections and other crosswalks, so stick to them when you need to cross roadways.
• When you don’t have access to a crosswalk or intersection, stay in the light and make sure you have sufficient time to cross. As you cross, make sure you continue to look for vehicles, since they could come up on you without much notice.

These tips may seem like common sense, but it never hurts to get a reminder. The more you do to protect yourself, the better the possibility you will get to your destination safely. If a vehicle strikes you, despite your best efforts, you could pursue compensation for the monetary losses and other damages you will incur as a result.