Team #1 - Pedstrian Safety around Schools

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/home/home.shtml

earn the importance of auto-pedestrian safety by listening to the heartbreaking stories of 2 Utah families who lost their loved ones from an auto-pedestrian crash. Click here to watch video Running time: 5:08 minutes

Safety Tips for Motorists

• Slow down and use caution in residential areas, around schools, playgrounds, parks, bus stops or other areas where children and other pedestrians are common.
• If a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk (marked or unmarked) for a pedestrian to cross, any vehicle approaching from the rear must stop also to allow the pedestrian to cross.
• Motorists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing at intersections (a crosswalk exists at every intersection regardless of whether or not it is painted) or in any other marked crosswalk.
• When exiting a parking lot or driveway a motorist must stop before the sidewalk and must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrians on the sidewalk before crossing over the sidewalk.
• Vehicles making a left or right turn on a green light must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk within the intersection.
• When turning right on red, come to a complete stop and look to the right for pedestrians crossing the street in front of your vehicle.
• Vehicles must stop at the “stop line” in front of a crosswalk, and not in the crosswalk.
• Pedestrians are the road users most at risk. Do all you can to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

• Always look left-right-left before crossing any street and continue to look for vehicles as you cross.
• Do not stand in the street while waiting to cross.
• Just because you as a pedestrian use a crosswalk to cross the street, it does not mean that a motorist will see or even stop for you. Be a defensive pedestrian and don’t put your safety in the hands of motorists.
• When crossing at a marked crosswalk, push the pedestrian signal button. It will give you more time before the traffic light turns green.
• If a sidewalk exists, use it. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic along the shoulder of the roadway.
• If crossing a road with several lanes and a vehicle in the closest lane has stopped to allow you to cross, make sure vehicles in other lanes see you and stop for you as well, before proceeding into the path of the next lane. It is easy for you as a pedestrian to be hidden from the view of other motorists by the vehicle that has already stopped.
• Look out for motorists entering or exiting a parking lot or driveway. Motorists are required by to law to yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk, but many motorists do not.
• Dress to be seen. Brightly colored clothing may make you a little more visible to drivers during daylight hours, but during nighttime hours bright and even white clothing does little to enhance your visibility to motorist. If out walking when it is dark, wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight.