Avoiding Auto-Pedestrian Accidents

Though automobile accidents involving other autoscrosswalk and allowing a pedestrian safe access is
or trucks are dangerous and frightening, anthe right thing to do.
accident involving an automobile and a pedestrianIntersections are where most automobile
is often more injurious, often fatal, with theaccidents occur because of the extra options
pedestrian coming up a loser every time. In anregarding ways to proceed. Drivers need to be
ongoing effort to be a safer driver, acuteaware of not only traffic signals pertaining to
attention to surroundings, including sidewalks,themselves, but also of "walk" signals that assure
parking lots, and driveways, is of utmostpedestrians they are safe to cross the street.
importance. The consequences of inattentionWhen taking a right after stopping at a "red", a
when pedestrians are present can be horrible,driver must make sure there is not a pedestrian
even deadly.taking the opportunity to cross the street at that
Drivers must always keep in mind thesame moment. Peripheral vision and attention is
responsibility that goes along with the privilege andcrucial in this situation.
ability to pilot an automobile or truck. Behind thePerhaps all drivers are still not aware that passing
wheel of a vehicle, it can be easy to feela stopped school bus with its red "stop" sign
invulnerable, and compared to a pedestrian, youextended is against the law. The fine is extreme,
definitely are. No matter if a pedestrian is notand the danger of striking a child crossing the
observing the "rules of the road" and is puttingstreet is undeniably high and completely avoidable.
him or herself in harm's way, drivers mustNo matter what pressing situation needs a driver's
remember that the overwhelming advantage in anattention immediately, passing a school bus can
accident falls with the automobile, and use all skillnever be an option. Wait until the bus continues,
and ability to avoid contact with a pedestrian, noand then proceed around if possible.
matter who is in the "right".Adhering to these simple guidelines can help avoid
Crosswalks are essential exchanges foran automobile-pedestrian accident. Of course, a
pedestrians to safely cross roadways. Driversdriver should refrain from drinking alcohol when
must pay careful attention to crosswalks at alldriving as judgment as well as reaction times are
times of day, because within their confines,impaired. It is essential to keep the road safe for
pedestrians have every right to feel safe andvehicles and pedestrians alike. Should an accident
protected. Many cities have taken pedestrianoccur, after emergency agencies are notified, it is
safety to a higher attention level by issuing ticketsadvisable to contact insurance and legal
to drivers who ignore crosswalks by barrelingrepresentation as well, to keep all parties involved
through, putting citizens' lives at risk. Whether inprotected.
order to avoid a ticket or not, stopping at a