Being involved in an accident can be a terrible experience just by itself. Adding in being involved in a fatal pedestrian accident can make it almost unbearable. Here are just a few of the steps that you can take to reduce the amount of fatal pedestrian-related accidents.
Double Check before Turning
It can be difficult to see a pedestrian before it’s too late, especially at night. Double checking your blind spots and making sure that a pedestrian isn’t running up behind you can help to reduce your chances of being in an accident. Keeping an eye out for where people are walking when you’re driving may help you to achieve this task. Don’t try to make a turn at the last minute because this could cause you to rush through the checking process.
Increase Your Visibility
There are some ways that you can increase your visibility. Driving with your lights on and ensuring that your bulbs are working is a good place to start. For older cars, the headlights can dim as they age. This may be contributing to you not being able to see the road that well. Take steps to increase the amount of light that can pass through the headlamp. You can increase the wattage emitted or even clean the headlights on both the inside and the outside.
Watch for Crosswalks
Pedestrians are just as likely to be hit in a crosswalk as other places on the road. This is because many drivers fail to yield the right of way at the crosswalk. Be cautious when you’re approaching a crosswalk and ensure that there aren’t any pedestrians waiting to cross. Leave yourself enough space so that you won’t inadvertently hit the pedestrian if someone were to rear-end you. If you are involved in a pedestrian-related accident, speak with a pedestrian-motor vehicle accident lawyer so that you can understand your rights.
Reduce Your Speed
Most pedestrian-related accidents end up being fatal due to the rate of speed that the car was traveling. Reducing your rate of speed when there are pedestrians around or when you’re in a neighborhood can help to mitigate your risk level. Studies have shown that dropping your speed by five miles an hour in a residential neighborhood could make the accident more survivable for the pedestrian involved. This is, of course, dependent on the fact that you were adhering to the speed limit in the first place.
No one wants to be involved in an accident that’s fatal. Take these steps to protect yourself from having something like this happen to you.
Author Info: Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @RachelleWilber.
