Pedestrian accidents and fatalities happen each day. In most cases, drivers and pedestrians have to share the road with cyclists and many other road users. Pedestrians are normally vulnerable to accidents than people in cars, and divers should take precautions to enhance their safety.
Why is pedestrian safety important?
Drivers pose a significant risk to pedestrians, and they should be vigilant while walking on the streets and busy roads. Pedestrian safety helps mitigate many pedestrian accidents, leading to injuries, chronic pain, and even death. It also helps reduce fatalities associated with accidents. Kids are also at risk, and pedestrian safety helps children stay safe while crossing busy roads.
What are the best ways to promote pedestrian safety?
There are various ways to enhance the safety of pedestrians on the road. These are;
- Use tactile warning products
Some pedestrians walk without recognizing any hazards on the walkways. These include blind and visually impaired persons. For such pedestrians, bright signage won’t be useful, and detectable warning surfaces work best.
- What are detectable warning surfaces?
A detectable warning surface is a strip of contrasting color circles on pedestrian ramps. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires them to be installed at transition points with street crossing and sidewalks to the roadway. These warning surfaces’ role is to alert visually impaired pedestrians in case of a change in environment or surface conditions when walking without a cane.
- What is the importance of warning surfaces to pedestrians?
Detectable warning surfaces intensify the safety of visually impaired persons in numerous ways. They alert blind pedestrians in case of changes in surface conditions and environment while walking on the street. They help disabled pedestrians to stay safe, and this prevents injuries on the road.
- Dedicated pedestrian walkways
Pedestrian walkways give pedestrians ample walking space one road. They enable them to walk around on foot and access the nearby properties with ease. They include sidewalks, crosswalks, and many other walking paths. These should be marked to enable drivers and pedestrians to recognize the area. The sidewalks and trails should be accessible, allowing the pedestrians to connect with crosswalks where necessary.
- Maintain high-traffic areas
Sidewalks or parking lots with many hazards make it likely for drivers and pedestrians to get into accidents. In case of uneven sidewalks, pedestrians can easily stumble into the traffic and incur injuries. Drivers can also swerve on sidewalks with potholes causing accidents. It’s best to maintain all pathways in excellent condition to minimize the risk of accidents.
- Use of signage
Road signs direct or stop traffic flow, and come in handy in busy roads. They help drivers to know when to give way to pedestrians crossing the street. They are useful in areas where divers ignore crosswalks. They are also handy in horrible weather, making it difficult for drivers to see the lines on the road.
Final thoughts
Pedestrian safety is paramount. It helps in the prevention of accidents on sidewalks. There are various ways to prevent pedestrian accidents, and these include road signages, use of detectable warning surfaces, and maintaining pathways and high-traffic areas.
