Risk Management Tip
Pedestrian Safety
According to the Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a pedestrian is injured in the U.S. every eight minutes, and a pedestrian is killed every two hours. In 2010, emergency rooms treated injuries for about 1,500 pedestrians who were using a cell phone while walking – double the number from 2005. And in the sunshine state, pedestrian deaths are nearly double the national average. Here are some tips for protecting you and your children while walking, jogging or riding a bike:
- Cross the street only at a designated crosswalk.
- Increase your visibility at night by carrying a flashlight and wearing reflective clothing.
- Be careful at intersections where drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians while turning onto another street.
- It’s safest to walk on a sidewalk. If you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.
- Remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in from of them and watch out for cars that are turning or backing up.
- If children need to use a cell phone, make sure they stop walking and find a safe area to talk. Teach kids to look up and pay extra attention when using headphones and remove them when crossing the street.
