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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Traffic Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps you and your family safe. Whether regulating proper protocol regarding emergency vehicles or notifying your family of recalls on child seats, the NHTSA is in the business of keeping us safe. Of course, when it comes to traffic safety, you will find what NHTSA keep the worker and the pedestrian safer. Whether you are 6-years old or 99-years old, the NHTSA has suggestions and regulations on how to stay safe as a driver and as a pedestrian.

What are a few suggests when walking while around vehicles? How can you teach your children safe steps for dealing with vehicles and often unobservant drivers? Each tip below will help keep you and your children safer whether walking to the grocery store or out to the mailbox.

Walk on the sidewalk if there is a sidewalk available. If you are unable to walk on the sidewalk, you should walk facing traffic. Never walk in traffic! This is dangerous and can have fatal results. A 4-ton pickup is going to have a lot more momentum than a 120-pound person no matter how fast that person can run.

Being seen can save your life. Wearing high visibility clothing is not always an option. While hi-visibility vests are popular, they are not realistic in every occasion. Wear light clothing; if it is dark, consider wearing jackets with reflective properties or even a blinking light. A vehicle going 35mph only has a few seconds of visibility in a dark setting to realize there is someone walking by in dark clothing. Be seen!

Seeing is just as important. In an ideal world, a driver would always be aware of his or her surroundings. Unfortunately, a lot of accidents occur when the driver is eating, applying make-up, talking on a cell phone, or otherwise distracted. As a pedestrian, you will find that even the best in high visibility garments is not going to allow you to be seen by a distracted driver. Be aware of your surroundings. If a vehicle wants the right of way, give that vehicle the right of way! It could save your life.

Did you know that most accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians happen as the person walking crosses the road at an unmarked location? If at all possible, cross using a marked crosswalk. These crosswalks are not there to cause us inconvenience. Most often, these are marked simply because this is the best location for them.

In addition, when you are at the curb, do not depend on a green “walk” to go. Look left, the right, and finally, look left again! Teaching this to your children will also be a step in forming healthy protective habits. Always look; looking can save your life. If in question, wait.

The NHTSA promotes traffic safety that will keep the pedestrian and the driver safer. As a pedestrian, the best tool you have in your own safety is your own intelligence. If you want to cross, do not depend on signals; other people are unpredictable. Use commonsense and patience when dealing with other people and you will be safe living a longer, healthier life.