Pedestrians are the most at risk for injuries on Florida roadways. That is why laws have been created and safety precautions put in place to help protect them. However, despite these things, auto-pedestrian accidents still occur regularly with about 430 people a day being seen in hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While drivers should always be watching for pedestrians, it is really the pedestrians who need to pay the most attention because they have the most to lose.
Pedestrian safety begins with being alert and aware. This means not wearing headphones or using mobile devices when crossing the street or walking on a roadway. It is also important to follow all laws, such as crossing in crosswalks when they are available and always using the sidewalk. If there is not one, people should walk facing traffic on the very edge of the road.
Children can be especially vulnerable. According to SafeKids.org, most children under the age of 10 need an adult to help them safely cross the street because they are not mentally developed enough to assess risks and safely do it on their own. Kids should be taught the rules about walking when there is no sidewalk and using crosswalks. They should also be taught to look left, right and left before they cross a street and to not use mobile devices when walking so they can be aware of their surroundings. This is especially important for teens because the number of teens involved in pedestrian accidents has risen significantly. In fact, teens are more at risk now than younger children.
