As a pedestrian, walking in Spokane County gives us the most freedom to enjoy the sights and sounds of our community. It also means that we are at our most vulnerable as we share the roadways with bicyclists and drivers. Being informed of top safety tips and aware of our responsibilities as pedestrians, will help us enjoy our local areas safely and soundly. So lace up your sneakers and let's go!
Top Safety Tips | |
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1. Cross the street at marked crosswalks and intersections.
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2. Before crossing, look left, right, then left again.
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3. Use pedestrian pushbuttons.
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4. Begin crossing the street on "Walk" signal.
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5. Stay visible after dark and in bad weather.
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6. Watch out for vehicles backing out of parking spaces and driveways.
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7. Excessive alcohol consumption can impair the motor skills and judgment of pedestrians
just as it does for drivers. Don't take the
risk.
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8. Very small children should not cross street by themselves. Make sure your children are aware of pedestrian safety tips and laws. |
The teen death rate is
2times that of younger children.
Unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5 to 19. Teens have a death rate twice that of younger children and account for half of all child pedestrian deaths. The most likely cause for this would be distractions such as electronic devices that take attention off the road and environment.
Credit: Headphones photo via Shutterstock
In Spokane County:
In General:
Nationally:
References:
1 SRTC Collision Data, Spokane County, 2007-2009
2 Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System (CHARS), Spokane County, 2000-2009
3 Emergency Room Data, Spokane County, 2003-2009
4 SRTC, Non-motorized Transport Survey, 2010
5 SRTC Bike and Pedestrian Collision Map, Spokane County, 2007-2009
6 WSDOT Collision Data, Spokane County, 2006-2009
8 NHTSA's 2009 Traffic Safety Facts
9Washington State Patrol 2010 Annual Report
10Washington State Patrol. For period ending May 15, 2011
In Washington state: