Car accidents are always extremely dangerous, especially so when you are hit as a pedestrian or biker on the side of the road. You have no protection against a car as a pedestrian and this means your resulting injuries will be severe.

Additionally, pedestrian crashes also have a high likelihood of becoming hit-and-run incidents. Because this makes it much harder to identify an offending driver, you will face difficulty exploring compensation options after a hit-and-run accident.

This means you must do anything you can to avoid the pain, suffering, and mental challenge of being in a pedestrian accident. To help ensure your safety, we have a few useful tips you should take advantage of below.

Greater Visibility

One of the most important things you can do is to make yourself easier to see on the side of the road.

It can be difficult for drivers to see effectively when it is dark outside, raining, or there are curves in the road that restrict visibility. This often results in accidents when a driver does not realize a pedestrian is on or near the road and hits them.

To compensate for this, you must make it easier for cars to see you. This means avoiding darker clothes in favor of brighter alternatives or even wearing reflective safety gear. You can also wear active lights like a running strap fitted with LED lights or an illuminated leash for your dog.

The easier it is for a driver to see you, the further away they can see you from and this means they’ll have more time to stop or swerve to avoid hitting you.

Cautious Movements

Another key way to avoid getting hit as a pedestrian is to move cautiously.

Drivers on the road require predictability from others so that they understand what is needed from them to drive safely and avoid any collisions. This also applies to pedestrians because the cars on the road are expecting someone walking slowly on the side of the road to keep going in the same direction.

On the other hand, if you were to suddenly jolt across the road or even just start turning and make your body language indicate that you might cross, a driver may not know how to react. In turn, they may fail to recognize a need to brake or swerve dangerously to avoid you.

When you are obvious and deliberate with your movements, the cars on the road will know how to proceed around you safely.

Maintain Alertness

You must also maintain alertness when you’re walking or biking alongside cars.

Even if you are diligent about walking safely and making yourself highly visible, some drivers will be distracted or impaired. This directly endangers you and requires that you constantly watch the cars on the road to check for anything questionable.

Furthermore, you should also never make assumptions that a driver sees you and will stop for you. The road is meant for vehicles and drivers are not usually watching for pedestrians. What should be safe for you won’t always work out if a driver isn’t paying attention.

With this in mind, you should walk on the left side of the road and always keep your eyes scanning for oncoming cars. This lets you see upcoming hazards rather than getting hit from behind. Also, refrain from using headphones or using your cell phone so that all your key senses are fully focused on avoiding cars.

When you’re always watching for what’s ahead, you can be ready to dive out of the way or wait for a car to pass when it’s not safe.

Limit Road Time

A final pedestrian safety tip is to limit your road time.

No matter how diligent you are about pedestrian safety, getting hit by a car will likely be life-changing if not fatal. You cannot afford an accident and this means limiting your total exposure to cars on the road.

If possible, opt for alternative methods of transportation like buses and rideshare services. Should this be unreasonable, try to avoid particularly busy roads and don’t walk at night.

Remember that less time walking next to the road means fewer cars that pass and fewer opportunities for one of them to hit you.

Closing Thoughts

Walking or biking next to public roads can be incredibly dangerous. The cars on the road have a much harder time seeing you and the resulting impacts are severe without bodily protection.

Avoiding accidents as a pedestrian starts with you and how seriously you take pedestrian safety. A few great ways to help with this include increasing your visibility, being cautious with your movements, maintaining constant alertness, and limiting road time if possible.

While cars have a responsibility to avoid hitting you, this won’t always happen and you can’t let someone else decide your fate. Be proactive about walking safely and you can greatly reduce the odds of being hit.