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DRIVING: Pedestrian safety tips #2

Sooke PocketNews Posted on by

The following safety tips come from BC’s RCMP, and are printed on a reader’s request for this information. This reader observed there are still many pedestrians wearing dark colours, and nothing bright or reflective. I have personally witnessed a youth on a skateboard wearing all dark colours, riding down the middle of the road at night. These are avoidable tragedies waiting to happen. -Britt/SPN 

Pedestrian Safety

Both pedestrians and drivers have a responsibility to ensure that both parties remain safe in their travels. Below are some tips that all pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and vehicles should practice.

Pedestrians

  • Walk on the inside edge of the sidewalk so you are further away from traffic.
  • If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.
  • Cross only at intersections or marked crosswalks, never jay walk.
  • Dress to be seen especially at night and on dark/overcast days.
  • Make sure you can hear and see oncoming cars. Remove your headphones and your hood when crossing the street.
  • Make eye contact with drivers. Keep your head up & look where you’re walking. Never assume that drivers see you.
  • Always look for signs that a vehicle is about to move (rear lights, exhaust smoke, sound of motor, wheels turning).

Drivers

  • Vehicles should have their lights on to increase visibility, regardless of the time of day
  • When approaching an intersection always scan right and left for pedestrians before continuing through.
  • When operating a vehicle, be cautious of pedestrians who may be distracted or unaware of their surroundings (texting, on the phone, headphones in, umbrella or hood blocking their vision).
  • Obey the speed limit – not to avoid tickets but to avoid tragedy

CBC’s top five tips for parents to teach pedestrian safety to their children:

  • Make it fun – Instead of lecturing to your kids, try to make it fun while still treating it as a serious issue.
  • Be a role model – Parents are the number one role model for any young child so make sure you are setting a good example.
  • Focus on the basics – Kids will digest information about serious issues when it’s simple for them to understand.
  • Mark out safe areas – Focus on teaching your kids where to position themselves when they are around roads to ensure they are in as safe a position as possible.
  • Park It – Parking lots or any areas where cars commonly park require special attention. Remind your kids that vehicles can back up quickly or move without warning.

Retroreflector facts:

In the dark, wearing a retroreflector will reduce a pedestrian’s risk of being hit by a car by 85 percent.

A retroreflector will make you visible to the driver at a distance of 140 metres, with low-beams, or even at 400 metres, if the car has its high-beams on.

Without a retroreflector, you will be visible only at a distance of 25-30 metres, which equals about two seconds when the car’s speed is 50 km/h (31 mph). Subtract a second of reaction time, and you understand that’s not a lot of time for the driver to brake.

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Comments

DRIVING: Pedestrian safety tips #2 — 5 Comments

  2. I am new to Sooke and am surprised at all the crosswalks that dont even flash. With the price we pay in property taxes one would think they could spring for flashing crosswalks.

  3. I have to walk, because I can’t afford to ride. Where am I supposed to get the money to buy reflective clothing?

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