Wednesday, September 27, 2023
October is Pedestrian Safety Month
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) designated October as National Pedestrian Safety Month to increase awareness about pedestrian safety and remind those who drive and those who walk that staying safe is a shared responsibility.
October wasn’t chosen randomly. Children are back in school, and the sun continues to set earlier as Daylight Saving Time approaches. The weather is still mild enough that there are plenty of people out walking, biking and being active.
Why focus a whole month on pedestrian safety? In 2021, more than 60,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide, according to NHTSA. There were 7,388 pedestrians killed; that’s a 13-percent increase from 2020. The pedestrian death toll that year in New Jersey was 217. While that figure dropped to 192 in 2022, that was the first decline in several years.
Speed is often one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in vehicle crashes. Drivers should try leaving for your destination five minutes sooner than you planned and just take it slow behind the wheel. It can reduce stress and more importantly save lives. Check out the other safety steps you can take, whether driving or walking.
NHTSA offers a few suggestions on what drivers can do to keep themselves and those around them safe:
- Look out for pedestrians everywhere, all the time
- Use caution, especially when driving conditions can be more difficult, like bad weather or at night
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop far enough ahead of crosswalks to give other cars a chance to see people crossing so they can stop too
- Never pass another vehicle that’s stopped at a crosswalk; it’s likely that people are crossing, you just can’t see them
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Follow the speed limit, especially when people are around, in school zones, on the street or in neighborhoods with children
Pedestrians can also take steps to improve safety. This includes obeying signs and signals and using sidewalks whenever possible. In cases where there’s no sidewalk, it’s best to walk facing traffic.
When crossing the street, cross at crosswalks and intersections while looking for cars in all directions, especially those turning left or right. If no crosswalk or intersection is available, look for a well-lit area where you have a good view of traffic, and remember that sometimes drivers can’t see you.
While October serves as an extra reminder of the importance of being safe when travelling, all these suggestions are things that everyone should be doing throughout the year.