10 Safety Tips for Pedestrians
- Be safe and be seen: make yourself visible to drivers
- Be predictable. Stay off freeways and restricted zones. Use sidewalks where provided. Cross or enter streets where it is legal to do so.
- Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials.
- Where no sidewalks are provided, it is usually safer to walk facing road traffic.
- Be wary. Most drivers are nice people, but don’t count on them paying attention. Watch out – make eye contact to be sure they see you!
- Alcohol and drugs can impair your ability to walk safely, just like they do a person’s ability to drive.
- Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.
- Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
- Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
- Don’t rely solely on pedestrian signals; look before you cross the road.
Take Steps for Safety – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Cross the street at a designated crosswalk.
- Be careful at intersections, where drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians while turning onto another street.
- Increase your visibility at night by carrying a flashlight and wearing reflective clothing.
- It’s safest to walk on a sidewalk, but if you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.
Winter Walking
We encourage the use of appropriate footwear and ice grippers to tackle the tough Alaska winter walking conditions. Local Alaska business, Skinny Raven offers to put studs in your shoes for a small fee. No slips, no falls with studded shoes. Stud services are $10 and always free for those 60 and over.
Helpful Links
For more information about pedestrian safety, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pedestrian Safety website.
For resources about children and pedestrian safety, visit the National Center for Safe Routes to School, as well as their Walking School Bus website.