Staying safe as a pedestrian in Georgia

As a pedestrian you are subject to the possible danger of being hit by a car or someone biking down the street, as you do not have the same protection as a car. While it is not always possible to avoid being struck by a vehicle, there are precautions you can take while walking that can help you avoid an injury or fatality.

Pedestrian deaths have been on the rise in Georgia. In fact, in 2015 the number of pedestrian deaths increased by 30 individuals.

Safety tips

At some point in your life, you have experienced being a pedestrian. Some individuals are pedestrians daily, as it is one of the main forms of transportation. When you are a pedestrian, it is important to remember these safety tips so that you can avoid cars that share the road.

• Follow the traffic signals: when the traffic lights say, “DON’T WALK,” do not walk. This one sounds easy, but many individuals choose to walk when they are not supposed to, and it can lead to nasty accidents. When you decide to cross the street, look and make sure there are no distracted drivers running a red light before you do so.
• Avoid jaywalking: Numerous accidents occur when pedestrians are crossing the street at an unspecified crossing zone and cars do not see them before it is too late. To avoid an accident, cross at the cross walk.
• Make eye contact: When you are crossing the street, make eye contact with the drivers waiting to cross. If you know they can see you, there is less chance of them hitting you.
• Look up: From your phone, that is. There are many distracted drivers on the road that lead to fatal accidents, but pedestrians can get distracted too. Spending too much time looking at your phone instead of the cars and drivers on the road can get you caught in an accident.

Being a pedestrian does not have to be a cause for worry. As long as you stay alert and aware while walking on the road, you may be able to avoid a bad accident.