Pedestrian Safety

From driving in your personal vehicle to using public transit, we all have our own way of getting around town. But at one time or another, everyone is a pedestrian.

It is all our responsibility to make our community a safer place for our friends, family, loved ones, and neighbors. Unfortunately, when it comes to traffic safety, there is still room for growth in our city. So far in 2019, the City of Colorado Springs has lost 41 community members to traffic fatalities — nine of which were pedestrians.

Whether you’re a concerned resident, a parent or caregiver, it’s important to remember that safety is a shared responsibility. By knowing and following some basic guidelines, we can make sure everyone can enjoy walking safely in our community.

10 Walking Safety Tips

1. Know and follow all traffic rules, signs, and signals. You need to be aware of the rules vehicles around you must follow to properly anticipate what drivers will do.

2. Be predictable by obeying signs and signals and crossing streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians.

3. Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.

4. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.

5. Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices and try to avoid wearing headphones.

6. Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen.

7. Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.

8. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.

9. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking.

10. Do not walk where pedestrians are prohibited such as certain highways, etc.

10 Driving Safety Tips

1. Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.

2. Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.

3. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.

4. When you are stopped at a crosswalk, allow enough room between your vehicle and the crosswalk so other drivers can see the pedestrians you have stopped for.

5. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the cross-walk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.

6. Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see.

7. Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

8. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.

9. Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.

10. Be extra cautious when backing up — pedestrians can move into your path.

These are are just some examples of things we can do as we work together to reduce pedestrian deaths and traffic fatalities as a whole.