It’s Labor Day weekend, which we celebrate as the last day of summer. It’s also a return to the classroom for our young scholars. And that means more and more children will be walking to school and the bus stop. And with more pedestrians on the street, that means more pedestrian accidents.
Children as Pedestrians
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every five pedestrians under the age of 15 were killed in traffic crashes in 2015. Pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than car passengers to be killed in a car crash on each trip. Just in 2015 alone, 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic accident in the U.S. That equates to one crash-related pedestrian death every 1.6 hours. In addition, almost 129,000 pedestrians were treated for non-fatal, crash-related injuries in 2015.
Most pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas, just like Jersey City. And the two groups most likely to get hit are the elderly and children.
With pedestrian accidents on the rise, the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone wants your little ones to be safe on the way to school. Here are a few safety tips for both your children and for drivers to keep in mind when heading back to school next week.
Child Pedestrian Safety
- Always walk on the sidewalk. If there isn’t a sidewalk, make sure you are walking on the road facing oncoming traffic.
- Wearing brightly colored clothing so drivers can see you during the day. If you’re walking at night, have a flashlight or wear reflective material so the car’s lights will bounce off you and back on the driver.
- Most pedestrian accidents occur when the child darts out in front of a parked car instead of using the intersection. This is quite dangerous since the driver won’t see you coming. So make sure you always cross at the intersection.
- When you are about to cross the street, stop, look left, then right, then left again before crossing.
- Even if the oncoming car seems to be a distance away, wait for the car to go by before crossing.
Driver Safety
- Always stay alert. Look for pedestrians at all times, especially on city streets.
- Follow the posted speed limits, especially in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic.
- If you’re driving in bad weather, aim for slower speeds and keep your lights on.
- Always yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk. Remember to leave enough room between your vehicle and the crosswalk so other drivers can see the pedestrians you stopped for.
- Always watch for pedestrians when pulling into and out of driveways, especially if you are backing up.
Contact Us If You Get into a Pedestrian Accident
If you or a child is injured in a pedestrian accident, you have the right to pursue legal action against the driver. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone today to learn your legal options.