Pedestrian Safety

When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, more than 80 percent of the time the pedestrian is killed or seriously injured. In Michigan, more than 100 pedestrians die each year. Most of these deaths occur between 6 p.m. and midnight, with many fatalities occurring when pedestrians cross the roadway somewhere other than at an intersection.

Pedestrians should:

• Use sidewalks whenever available.
• Obey traffic signals.
• Never cross mid-block.
• Cross streets at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks whenever possible.
• Always stop at the edge of a parked car, curb, or vehicle before walking out into traffic.
• Look left-right-left before crossing a street and continue looking while crossing.
• Make eye contact with drivers prior to crossing in front of them.
• Never assume the vehicle driver can see you.
• Walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible when walking along the roadway.
• Wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight when walking at night or in the early morning.
• Never allow children under age 10 to cross the streets alone. Young children do not have the skills to accurately judge traffic risks.
• Allow for enough time to safely cross the street.