If you’re involved in a road traffic accident as a pedestrian, the consequences can be life-changing. It’s for this reason that we insist that children look both ways before crossing the road, in most cases, before they’re old enough to understand the instruction.
The good news is that the rate at which pedestrians are injured or killed by road vehicles is declining. While the number of people actually walking has increased, the number of fatalities and serious injuries is gradually declining.
With that said, there’s still considerable room for improvement. Let’s take a look at a few of the causes of these problems and how they might be dealt with.
Distracted Driving and Inattentive Pedestrians
To begin with, we should look at inattention. If you’re distracted by your phone, as many people are in the modern era, then you won’t be able to pay attention to the world around you. As well as having mental health consequences, this will also put you at risk. Headphones are a major culprit here.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
The faster a vehicle is travelling, the more difficult it will be for the driver to bring it to a stop when the road environment changes. Stopping distances can be driven down by regular tyre changes and a good night’s sleep. But slowing down is often the most effective change we can make.
If you’re involved in a road accident as a pedestrian, then it might be that you can make a legal claim based on the speed at which the vehicle was travelling.
Poor Visibility and Weather Conditions
During winter, when rainfall, mist, and darkness are more plentiful, the risk of an accident tends to rise. If a road surface is slippery with rainwater, and hazards are more difficult to spot, it follows that the risk is higher. For this reason, it’s worth slowing down even further when it’s dark and wet.
Failure to Follow Traffic Signals and Crossings
It’s worth paying attention to the signage around any given road, even if you think that you’re familiar with it. It’s easy to get into the habit of ignoring a given sign at a given place and assume that you’ll always be able to get away with doing so. Make sure that you don’t do this.
Pay particular attention to crossings and junctions. If you encounter roadworks or busy areas like school gates, then special caution is warranted.
Alcohol, Drugs, and Impaired Judgement
It should go without saying that alcohol and driving make a dangerous combination. But a number of additional facts might not be obvious. The first is that there’s no safe limit for alcohol; the second is that intoxication can endanger pedestrians, too. There are other forms of intoxication than being drunk, too. Other drugs, including prescription drugs, can impair your driving performance. The same goes for tiredness.
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