Protect Yourself With Pedestrian Safety Tips From The 70th Precinct

As part of Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan, the 70th Precinct has offered some tips to keep us walkers safer on the street.

Drivers, cyclists, and folks using other forms of transportation no doubt play a part in pedestrian safety as well, and should travel with caution accordingly by obeying the speed limit, not using phones, and yielding to pedestrians–but as a jumping off point, consider these ideas next time you have to get from one place to another.

• Do not use cell phone or other electronic device while you cross the street. Always be alert, don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes and ears off the road. (Inspect Rodriguez has repeated this a few times recently at Community Council meetings–it’s not just for the sake of not getting your device stolen anymore.)

• Walk on sidewalks. If you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic. Stop at the curb before entering the street.

• Cross only at street corners, preferably those with a traffic light and within marked crosswalks.

• Pay attention to “Walk/Don’t Walk” signals.

• Give yourself the most time to cross by waiting for a newly turned green or walk signal.

• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, and be on the lookout for turning or backing vehicles.

• Keep scanning for vehicles as you cross.

• Hold your hand up or do whatever it takes to make yourself more visible to drivers.

• Make eye contact with the driver before crossing in front of a vehicle. Stay out of the driver’s blind spot.

• Walk and cross with other pedestrians wherever possible.

• Listen for the engine noises of backing vehicles when you’re in a parking lot, near a driveway or crossing mid-block between cars.

• Wear light or bright-colored or reflective clothing, especially if you walk at night. Use a flashlight if you walk at night.

• When you walk with younger children, make sure you hold their hands and keep them in your eye sight.

So, what are your thoughts? Any for pedestrians you’d like to add, or do you think tips for drivers and/or bikers should come first? Are tips like these of use, or is it possible to use enforcement or another tactic more efficiently as a deterrent from dangerous behavior on the road?

Leave your two cents below, and if you’d like to make a suggestion to help local authorities improve safety around the 70th, please attend the next Community Council meeting at 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 26, at the UCP building (175 Lawrence Avenue between Ocean Pkwy and E 2nd Street).