Although the incidence of pedestrian injuries and fatalities has dropped by 17 percent and 23 percent respectively in the past 10 years in the United States, the toll this takes on personal lives remains incalculable.
Lost income, physical and psychological therapy, and debilitating grief - the immeasurable costs of pedestrian accidents levy a burden on society in general, not to mention the personal cost to the people directly affected by the accident.
Stick to these two simple reminders to avoid being a pedestrian accident statistic.
Slow Down When Cars Speed Up Pedestrians share the road with vehicles of all sizes.
In the modern day competition for right of way on the road between a human being and a two ton behemoth on four wheels (sometimes more), it is never wise to bet on the one whose main means of propulsion are two legs and a pair of (hopefully) strong lungs.
If you happen to be this human faced with the choice of crossing the road ahead of an oncoming car speeding up to beat the yellow light, or standing on the curb and waiting for the light to turn in your favor, stay conservative.
Cross the street only when it is absolutely safe to do so.
There is no appointment compelling enough for which you have to risk your life - not even the one with the caramel doughnut calling your name from the corner bakery.
Keep your Mind on the Road Even though you're the pedestrian, you need to be aware of what is happening on the road.
It is amazing to see how many people text or talk on their cell phones while walking.
They call it multi-tasking.
The demands of modern liferequire so much to be accomplished in a day and no added hours in order to do them.
When you engage in another activity while walking, you become a high risk target on the road.
No, there is no lunatic driver out there aiming to hit pedestrians using their cell phones while walking.
It is your attention that is compromised, and in your less-than-alert frame of mind, it is easy to make mistakes that may end up costing you dearly.
Wait until the curb before whipping out your cell phone and taking your mind off what is happening on the road.
That caramel doughnut will still be there at the counter waiting for you.
Walking is a great low-impact exercise.
As long as you don't take unnecessary risks and stay alert, you will reap its benefits for years to come.
Remember to stay alert and be conscious of your surroundings in order to avoid an accident.
In the grand scheme of things, a minute or two cannot make that much of a difference.