The first Friday of the month of April is National Walk to Work Day! Finally, spring is feeling like spring. If you live within walking distance of your job, give yourself a chance to celebrate the warmer weather by participating in this annual event.
To help you celebrate National Walk to Work Day, here are some tips to ensure you arrive to work safe and sound:
Stand Out
- Wear brightly colored clothing and reflective materials.
- If you’re walking at night, have a flashlight.
- Only walk or cross the street in well-lit areas at night.
- Steer clear of visual obstacles such as buses, hedges, parked cars so drivers can see you.
Be Alert
- Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk as far onto the shoulder as possible, facing traffic.
- Don’t assume anything. Don’t assume cars can see you. Don’t assume they will stop for you. Make veye contact with drivers, ensuring they see you face-to-face. If a driver is on a cell phone, he or she may not see you he or be paying enough attention to notice you or to drive safely.
- Don’t rely solely on signals. Always look before you cross the road, even when signs tell you, that you have the right-of-way.
- Take note of engine noise or backup lights on cars when in parking lots and near on-street parking spaces. If the car is on, it could move at any moment.
- Look twice in both directions before crossing a street.
- Be on guard for turning vehicles. Make sure the driver sees you and is ready to stop for you. When in doubt, let them pass.
- Ensure all lanes are visually clear before crossing. Do not assume all drivers in all lanes can see you and will stop for you.
Obey the Law
- Wherever possible and available, use crosswalks.
- Obey traffic signals.
- Don’t drink and walk. Walking while under the influence of drink or drugs increases your chance of being struck by a car.
- Don’t walk distracted. Avoid wearing headphones or talking on a cell phone while crossing.
For more on the subject of pedestrian safety, download our free resource, The Essential Guide to Pedestrian Safety.
Our goal is your safety and well-being. If you need help or guidance on a pedestrian accident case, give us a call toll-free at (877) 721-7201 or drop us a line.