How to Keep Our Child Pedestrians Safe

You never expect an accident, especially when you’re just walking down the street. Take for instance the recent accident involving a young boy. The 8-year-old had just got off a jitney bus and as he was crossing the street, another vehicle had struck him. The boy was rushed to the hospital where he is in stable condition. But could this accident have been prevented?

When driving, it’s important to stay attention to what’s happening all around you. And the same should be said for the pedestrian, especially our children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2013, a number that has increased over the years. In addition, children are among those who are most at risk. The NHTSA found that 22 percent of those killed in pedestrian accidents were from children ages 14 and younger.

There are ways to teach our children to be safer as a pedestrian. SafeKids.org offers the following tips:

•  Teach your children had to stay safe. Explain traffic signals to them and tell them it’s best to cross at crosswalks.
• Tell children to be aware when crossing the road. Ignore the cell phone and look in all directions before crossing.
• Children under the age of 10 should always cross the street with an adult
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. If the driver doesn’t look, then they know it’s not safe.

Were you in an auto accident and need legal advice? We’re here to help! Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone today for a free consultation.