Pedestrian Safety
In the past few years over 40% of fatal collisions in Surrey have involved pedestrians. Drivers have a responsibility to share the road responsibly, and pedestrians have an equally important role to ensure their safety.
Pedestrians are at greatest risk for harm during inclement weather and in the fall and winter as daylight hours decrease. Year-round, most crashes involving pedestrians happen on Fridays between 3-6 PM, according to ICBC’s statistics.
Pedestrians
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Do not assume a driver has seen you.
- Dress to be seen in bright or reflective clothing especially at night and on dark/overcast days.
- Use a crosswalk, a majority of the fatal pedestrian collisions involve jaywalking.
- Walk on the inside edge of the sidewalk so you are further away from traffic.
- If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.
- Make sure you can hear and see oncoming cars. Remove your headphones and your hood when crossing the street.
- Always look for signs that a vehicle is about to move (rear lights, exhaust smoke, sound of motor, wheels turning).
- Teach your child to be a safe pedestrian with the poster
Look, listen & be seen
from ICBC
Drivers
- Vehicles should have their lights on to increase visibility, regardless of the time of day.
- When approaching an intersection always scan right and left for pedestrians before continuing through.
- When operating a vehicle, be cautious of pedestrians who may be distracted or unaware of their surroundings (texting, on the phone, headphones in, umbrella or hood blocking their vision).
- Obey the speed limit and drive for the conditions.
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