Your mother always told you to look both ways. Good advice, but that’s just the beginning. Whether you’re hoofing it to work, going for a jog or just taking a leisurely stroll, there’s a lot you can do as a pedestrian to protect yourself. Always obey the rules of the road. Make sure others see you. And, most importantly, watch for cars, bikes and other vehicles – because they might not be watching for you.
Be Safe
Walking:
Always use sidewalks when available.
If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway as you can.
Obey all pedestrian traffic signals.
Running:
Runners are pedestrians: run against the flow of traffic, cross at crosswalks, obey traffic signals, and wear reflective gear.
Crossing the street:
Use crosswalks wherever possible. If you don’t see one – yield to traffic.
Cross in well-lit areas with the best view of traffic.
Don’t cross mid block or diagonally.
Make sure each lane of traffic is clear before you cross.
At a bus stop: cross behind the bus or in the crosswalk.
Pay attention to cars turning.
Be Visible
Make drivers see you: carry a flashlight, wear reflective gear, walk in well lit areas.
Stand clear of parked cars, buses, hedges, and other obstacles before crossing the street.
Watch for Me!
Pay attention and avoid distractions like cell phones and music players. You need the ability of your two key senses, seeing and hearing, to detect cars.
Watch for cars backing up in parking lots and driveways. Brake lights may mean that a car is about to back up.
Know your surroundings. On a blind curve or steep hill, walk along the outer curve to see oncoming traffic and be visible to drivers.
Look left, right, and left again. Look for cars in all directions.
On a sharp corner with limited visibility (blind curve) or a steep hill, it’s safer to walk along the outer curve rather than to say in the inner curve, even though this is opposite of the rule to face traffic when walking. In the inner corner, you won’t be able to see upcoming traffic and it won’t see you. Cross the road at a safe distance from the curve, walk along the outer curve, and cross back again at a safe distance. You should be extra careful during this segment, because drivers may not expect pedestrians on the right side of the road.
Don’t assume vehicles see you. In fact, it’s safer to assume they don’t!
(Adapted from Bike Walk CT’s “Give Respect, Get Respect.
Share the Road, Connecticut” www.bikewalkct.org)
Pedestrians have the right of way in marked and unmarked crosswalks, meaning cars must yield (slow or stop) for pedestrians, wherever they are in the crosswalk. A pedestrian is considered in the crosswalk once they step off of the curb.
State law requires pedestrians to use crosswalks when they are provided.
It is unlawful to cross a street outside of a crosswalk if the pedestrian is between two signalized intersections.
At crosswalks with pedestrian signals, state law requires that pedestrians obey the “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” indicators in the same way a driver must obey red or green lights.
If the pedestrian began crossing during the “Walk” signal, they have the right of way over all cars, including those turning right on red, until they complete the crossing.
When NOT at an intersection or marked crosswalk, pedestrians must yield the right of way to all vehicles.
State law requires pedestrians walking along the road to use sidewalks when available.
When sidewalks are not available, pedestrians are to walk to the far left edge of the road facing traffic. Walking in this direction gives pedestrians the best view of traffic.
Cars may not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk if that car is stopped to let pedestrians cross.
When cars are crossing a sidewalk, they must yield to all pedestrians and other traffic on the sidewalk.
Pedestrians cannot dart/dash out in front of cars (giving them insufficient time to stop) or walk in the road under the influence. This protects drivers who are traveling at a reasonable speed and obeying laws from being at fault if a person’s actions prevent the driver from taking actions to avoid a crash.
May is Older Americans Month, a great reminder to always look out for older pedestrians. Between 2018-2022, people ages 50-65 accounted for 33.6% of pedestrian-related crashes. Drivers, always look out for pedestrians, especially at intersections!
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April showers bring… May puddles? Rainy days can lead to slick roads and limited visibility. Drive cautiously and watch the roads.
If you are driving in heavy rain here's what to do:
☔ Slow down
☔ Turn on your headlights
☔ Maintain a safe following distance
☔ Avoid hard braking to prevent hydroplaning
☔ Safely pullover if necessary
☔ Avoid standing water (drive slowly if you must)
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May is National Bicycle Safety Month! Here are some tips for cyclists and drivers to keep our roadways safe:
🚲Bikes are vehicles, so they should be ridden in the same direction as traffic and in the travel lane or a bicycle lane when possible.
🚲 It’s important for bicyclists to know where to ride in the lane. This depends on how fast they're going and if they need to turn. If a bicyclist is riding slower than cars around them, they should stay as far to the right as is safe—unless they're turning left, going around something in the road or passing another vehicle.
🚲 Drivers can pass a bicyclist only if they can leave at least 3 feet of space between their car and the bike. It’s okay to cross a double yellow line to do this, but only if the road is clear. If it’s not safe, drivers must wait to pass.
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The story of Shauna Devlin and her tragic death in 2022 is one of the stories highlighted in our documentary Ghost Shoes. Watch the full video, and learn how we can help prevent future tragedies, here: ow.ly/oAbC50VHQab
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Watch for Me CT's Amy Watkins was recently interviewed by CT Insider about our work to make Connecticut's roads safer for all. Click through to read the article and learn about the key laws all drivers and pedestrians should be aware of as they travel throughout the state.
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Watch for Me: Sharing Connecticut’s roads to make them safer for all
www.ctinsider.com
In December 2016, one week was one of the most deadliest on the road in Connecticut, according to Amy Watkins, program specialist for Watch for Me CT.Using your phone while driving is illegal in Connecticut. It takes your eyes off the road, which is never okay. Here are some tips to help keep your focus where it belongs:
📌If you are expecting a text message or need to send one that can’t wait, pull over and park your car in a safe location before using your device.
📌Make your passenger a “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
📌Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
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Do you know the signs? Whether you are riding a bike or driving a car, knowing the most commonly used hand signals for bicyclists can help keep everyone safe.
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