Arrive Alive

Safety of Pedestrians

Walking in Traffic 

The safety of pedestrians is one of the major concerns for the transport and traffic authorities in South Africa. There are at present several initiatives to enhance pedestrian safety. Unfortunately the past development of roads, informal settlements and general levels of intoxication amongst pedestrians are major stumbling blocks. There are certain strategies to take note of when walking in traffic and these include the following:

Walk on the Sidewalk

  • Stay on the sidewalk and crosswalks. Avoid walking in traffic where there are no sidewalks or crosswalks.

If you have to walk on a road that does not have sidewalks, walk facing traffic.

Cross at Intersections

  • Most people are hit by cars when they cross the road at places other than intersections.

Look right, left and right for traffic

  • Stop at the curb and look right, left and right again for traffic. Stopping at the curb signals drivers that you intend to cross. Cross in marked crosswalks and obey the signal.

See and Be Seen

  • Drivers need to see you to avoid you.
  • Stay out of the driver's blind spot.
  • Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets.
  • Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you are walking near traffic at night.

      Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.

  • Do not let kids play near traffic or cross the street by themselves. Kids are small, and drivers may not see them if they run into the street.

Watch your kids

  • Children should not cross streets by themselves or be allowed to play or walk near traffic. Kids are small, unpredictable, and cannot judge vehicle distances and speeds.
  • When kids get older, teach them three things to do before they cross the street:
    • Try to cross at a corner with a traffic light.
    • Stop at the curb.
    • Look right, left and then right again to make sure no cars are coming. [ Vehicles will first be approaching from your right side!]

 

Also View:

Loading...

Search Road Safety Articles

Latest Pages

Cellular Technology and Road Safety

Cellular Technology and Road Safety

Background Information The dangers of cellular phones to road safety are well debated and documented. It is an offence to hold and use a cellphone or other electronic communication device such as BlackBerry, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) etc whilst driving. The only defense for a person charged

Read More

Trucking Wellness & HIV Treatment

Trucking Wellness & HIV Treatment

Introduction Trucking Wellness (TW) is an initiative of the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI), which was launched in 1999. The aim of Trucking Wellness is to provide primary healthcare to those employed within the Road Freight and Logistics (RFL)

Read More

Escape and Safety from Vehicle Fire

Escape and Safety from Vehicle Fire

Introduction and Overview Tens of thousands of lives have been lost globally in the last few decades due to car entrapment deaths. In this section we will analyze the threat of vehicle fires and provide advice on how to act in these emergencies. Data from the United States reveals the importance

Read More

Investigation of the Contributing Factors to Vehicle Fire

Investigation of the Contributing Factors to Vehicle Fire

In this article, Stan Bezuidenhout from IBF Investigations gives us the low-down on vehicle fires. As a Forensic Specialist with more than 20 years of experience responding to and investigating road traffic collisions, he has investigated more than his fair share of vehicle fires. This is his take on

Read More

Road Safety with Arrive Alive on Twitter: Why does it Matter? What have we Learned?

Road Safety with Arrive Alive on Twitter: Why does it Matter? What have we Learned?

Introduction It has taken a while but we are proud to confirm that the Twitter handle of the Arrive Alive Online Initiative @_ArriveAlive has reached the 280,000 followers mark. This number is a bit of a milestone and an indication that we may be heading on the right path to reaching an online

Read More

The Health Risks of Exposure to Dust

The Health Risks of Exposure to Dust

First responders come across many situations where dust is present, such as factories, dusty roads, concrete-cutting facilities and even workshops. Dust is found in many places on a job site and can be hazardous to your health a somewhat detailed explanation of these hazards is explained below. The

Read More

Load More Pages

Partners

View All