Every pedestrian crosses the street. It's what we need to do to get to the other side. However, an action as simple is a potential risk. Every year, more and more pedestrians are getting hit by cars. Why is this? The answer is simple; both drivers and pedestrians aren't cautious of the environment that surrounds them, especially teens. Once we enter the teenage life, our brain is working in a way that we are exploring new possibilities. We may want to turn up the volume to high or dance in the car. Nevertheless, we can become reckless. Luckily, with these few simple facts and tips, we can make walking and driving a safe thing to do:
Now that we know a bit more on driving safely, it is time to resume to pedestrians. How can pedestrians prevent getting hit by a car? All you need to do is listen to these four words of advice:
- Stay as close as you can to the maximum speed limit. Every street has a different speed limit, which we need to obey. It's best to keep our eyes out for signs that tell us what the maximum speed limit is, or even try to memorize the different speeds. Regarding this, it's a good idea to stay as close as you can to the maximum speed limit. You don't want to go way over because you can cause an accident and you don't want to go below because someone who is driving at the maximum speed could possibly hit your car.
- Drive with your hands at the right position on the wheel. Imagine the steering wheel to be like a clock. Always position your hands on the 9 and the 3. This way, you'll get a better grip.
- Don't drive at night. It is likely that you'll want to drive home after dusk to avoid getting stuck in traffic. However, night time is not the safest time to be driving because of the darkness outside. In addition, people become tired at night and that immediately makes drivers less conscious of the world around them. It is highly recommended to avoid driving in the dark, unless you absolutely have to. In that case, visit our Driving at Night article.
- Keep yourself focused. It is very easy for everyone to get distracted, especially while driving. There is so much going on, it can be hard paying attention to just one thing. However, it is crucial for drivers to be paying attention to only one thing, and that is the road. A lot happens, and we are not paying attention, we can run a red light or speed. Worst comes to worst, we hit another car or a pedestrian and cause a serious accident. Always pay attention to the road ahead of you through the glass and behind you from your mirrors.
- Don't text. Texting and driving is an absolute no! Texting is one of the biggest distractions and is one of the main causes of car accidents. Put the phone down and don't answer any calls. If it is that important, it's best to pull over and get back on the road as soon as you've put the phone down. On the other hand, if you were driving on the highway, then you must not pull over for anything! Sometimes it's worth it to miss that one call.
Now that we know a bit more on driving safely, it is time to resume to pedestrians. How can pedestrians prevent getting hit by a car? All you need to do is listen to these four words of advice:
- Look both ways, even when the light allows you to cross. Before crossing the street, you should look both directions to see if any cars are coming. If you see a car coming at a fast speed, chances are high that he/she won't stop, so it is a good idea to wait to cross. In addition, it's good to trust your instinct. If you feel like a driver coming isn't going to stop or won't put you in a safe position, wait. It doesn't take much to wait a while before crossing.
- Stop. Look. Listen. Think. Have you ever heard of these words? Chances are high since they can be found at many websites, but if you haven't, they are good words of advice used for crossing the street safely. Stop and stay away from the curb. You don't want to get too close in case a car turns too close. Look both ways before crossing. Listen for the traffic. Do you hear a car coming fast? If you did then it wouldn't be a good idea to cross. Think about your possibilities. Is it safe to cross or should you wait? These are all important when it comes to crossing the street.
- Never j-walk. What is j-walking? Picture this: Suzanne is crossing the street right in the middle of the road, not even close to a crosswalk. Does this look like a safe scenario to you? Probably not! The chances are high that you will get hit by a car if you cross from the middle. It's always worth it to walk a little bit more to the closest crosswalk.
- Wear bright colours. Dressing in bright colours makes you much more noticeable to drivers than dressing in dark colours like black and navy blue, especially at night!